Incomplete.
Vast Cold City is the largest trading city of the Northern Tree Ocean. There were one hundred thousand cultivation stalls set up in that city.
Guang Hanzi was nominally the city lord. Inwardly, however, the city was connected to the vital interests of tens of Void Refinement Realm forces.
Ning Fan killed Du Yu in the Vast Cold City, abducted Guang Hanzi and massacred he entire city. Within just a day, his infamy spread across the whole Northern Tree Ocean!
When 13 old monsters at the Absolute Void Stage and Void Fragmentation Realm arrived at the city, Ning Fan had already left the place, leaving behind an empty city!
Three days later, the Vine Sovereign oft he Western Tree Ocean was informed about Du Yu's death. He was greatly infuriated and sent out countless experts to hunt Ning Fan down.
Ten days later, everywhere in the Western Tree Ocean and Northern Tree Ocean was filled with the wanted notice of Ning FAn.
"Murderer, Lu Bei, with a cultivation base at the Void Inquiry Stage, killed the Vine Sovereign's disciple at the Abyss Country of the Northern Tree Ocean. The Vine Sovereign is enraged and wants the entire Tree World to pursue this man! Whoever kills Lu Bei will be rewarded with ten billion immortal jade and ten bottles of Sixth Revolution Pills!"
The Eastern and Southern Tree Oceans, on the other hand, did not give a strict order to hunt Ning Fan down. Probably it was because the tree sovereign of the two areas were on bad terms with the Vine Sovereign.
Above a deserted tree mountain on the Northern Tree Ocean, Ning Fan was holding a wanted poster of himself in his hands. His expression turned cold.
After he had robbed the Vast Cold City, he immediately left that place and flew tens of cultivation countries away to avoid the pursuit of countles sepxerts.
"I didn't expect that I would be listed as wanted by the Vine Sovereign of the Western Tree Ocean. In this case, there will be some trouble for me to sneak into the Western Tree Ocean…"
The Fire Tree Clan resided in the Western Tree Ocean. It was the place where Ning Fan was prepared to go.
However, the Western Tree Ocean was the Vine Sovereign's territory as well. As Ning Fan had killed Du Yu and enraged the Vine Sovereign, he probably would be pursued by countless cultivators instantly once he goes to the Western Tree Ocean…
In this case, he could not go to the Western Tree Ocean anymore. At the same time, the Northern Tree Ocean was also full of danger.
From the Vast Cold City, Ning Fan had looted twenty billion immortal jade, countless spiritual herbs, magic treasures and cultivation methods as well as four Void Refinement Realm Dao fruits.
Simultaneously, his actions had offended countless forces in the Northern Tree Ocean. According to his knowledge, there were countless forces in five hundred plus cultivation countries of the Northern Tree Ocean wished to kill him…
"For now, it is unsuitable to go to the Western Tree Ocean. Since I can stay in the Tree World for three years, I don't need hurry to the Fire Tree Clan. It is also not suitable to stay in the Northern Tree Ocean for long. Now, there are already three Void Fragmentation Realm experts…
Filler Words
"If I make a single step on the Dao Stairs, I'll lose a day of life, huh…"
Ning Fan was first at first. After that, his face was filled with hesitation. When his eyes scanned across the area, he discovered an ancient silver stone stele at the foot of the mountain. The stele was carved with five letters which were in Divine Seal Writing.
"Each step costs a day!"
Indeed. Just as what he expected, every step that of the Dao Stairs would require one day of life.
"Could it a test about the Heart of Dao…?"
Ning Fan's eyes turned gloomy and took the second step on the stairs.
After he ascended to the second step of the stairs, his lifespan was shortened by one day again.
He was not frightened by the Dao Stairs that would shorten one's lifespan. Instead, he stopped ascending the stairs and started pondering.
As he still had twenty thousand years of life, a few days of life were not worth mentioning.
That being so, he continued ascended the stairs. Every step he took would drain away one day of his life.
When he stood at the 365th step of the stairs, he had lost one year of life in total.
When he climbed to the 730th step of the stairs, he had lost two years of life in total.
The higher he ascended, the deeper his eyes looked.
When he arrived at the 3650th step of the stairs, his lifespan was already shortened by ten years.
At the mountain slope beside the Dao Stairs he was standing, there was a second ancient stele that was also carved with five letters.
"Each step costs a year!"
Ning Fan frowned.
Is it possible that every step from now on will no longer reduce my life by one day but by one year instead…?
If every step ahead would shorten one's lifespan by a year, even Ning Fan would need to think twice before acting
After hesitating for a while, he took a step forward and ascended the 3651th step.
Instantly, one year of his life was drained away!
Ning Fan ignored the amount of life he had lost and took two hundred steps consecutively. When he stood at the 3850th step, his life was reduced by two hundred years.
Then, he saw the third stele standing at the slope beside the staircase. It was also carved with five letters.
"Each step costs ten years!"
Ning Fan wondered inwardly.
Could it be that I have to give up ten years of life for every step I take from now on?
He gazed forward following the trail of the staircase and saw that he would encounter the fourth stele after making two hundred steps. With his vision, he could vaguely see that the stele was also carved with five letters – each step costs one hundred years!
For every two hundred steps ahead, there would still be the fifth stele, the sixth stele, the seventh stele, the eighth stele and so on… However, he was unable to clearly see the details on the steles.
Ning Fan closed his eyes and doubts started to creep into his mind.
Ascending the Dao Stairs of this Earth Stage will actually shorten one's lifespan. Moreover, the higher I go, the more lifespan I will lose. It's obviously unwise to continue climbing up the stairs.
Even if Ning Fan possessed twenty thousand years of life, if a single step cost one hundred years or even one thousand years of life, he would die of old age at this stage…
Should I give up? Since this stage reduces one's lifespan, why not giving up this stage…
However, why will one lose their lifespan by climbing the Dao Stairs…? What exactly is the meaning behind the Rain Ancestor's intention of setting up this stage…?
Ning Fan closed his eyes and dismissed all the miscellaneous thoughts, empting his mind. His ears could only hear the wind brushing against his face.
His mind became quieter. Gradually, he could not even hear the wind.
Slowly, he sensed a mysterious and enchanting power that was hidden beneath the Dao Mountain.
The power was extremely abstruse and it seemed to possess the Dao Power that could control life and death…
"Life and death…"
Ning Fan raised his head and stared at the endless Dao Stairs and his eyes became deep, as if he could see through everything.
At the first half of the Dao Stairs, every jade stair was surrounded with death qi which could seize one's life force.
However, starting from the fifth stele, the jade stairs were filled with life qi which could replenish one's life force.
The reason why the Rain Ancestor set up this stage was naturally not to seize the lifespan of the descendants.
Every step in the first four steles might take away one's lifespan but every step in the final four steles would return their lifespan.
From life to death and from death to life… By going through this process, a cultivator would be able to comprehend life and death.
This was an opportunity, an opportunity to comprehend life and death, the essence to ascend the heavens and become an immortal!
If one does not have a firm Dao Heart, they would probably give up this stage outright upon discovering that they would lose their lifespan for every step they climb.
Only those who had firm Dao Heart would persist in climbing the stairs. And when they reach the fifth stele, they would regain their lifespan and obtain an opportunity to comprehend life and death.
"One will age gradually for every step that made in the first four steles. Each step will draw them closer to their doom… In this phase, there is the Great Dao of Death."
Ning Fan moved his fingers to perform hand seals, displaying the Immemorial Fishing Lines.
Strands of black fishing lines revolved around his fingers. At the same time, his eyes also turned pure black eerily. His presence was filled with death qi.
One step, two steps, three steps… Ning Fan continued climbing to the top of the mountain step by step. For every step he made, his lifespan would reduce by ten years.
However, he did not stop his pace, as if he felt nothing about the loss in his lifespan. After making two hundred steps, he arrived at the fourth stele but he had already lost two thousand years of life.
Starting from his current position, every step of stairs would cost him one hundred years of life.
Ning Fan did not have any hesitation and he began climbing the stairs one after another, moving toward the fifth stele.
One step cost him one hundred years of life. Ten steps cost him one thousand years of life. One hundred steps cost him ten thousand years of life…
There were 200 steps of Dao Stairs between the fourth stele and the fifth stele. In other words, one would need to lose twenty thousand years of life.
Usually, everyone who had arrived at this point would probably back off in fear. In Ning Fan's mind, however, there was no doubt or fear at all!
One step, two steps, three steps… Ning Fan's lifespan was draining away for every step he made and his appearance started to age.
When a cultivator's lifespan was about to finish, they would gradually show their age.
As Ning Fan's life force was draining away rapidly, the death qi around him became thicker and thicker.
From being a young man, his appearance gradually became like a middle-aged man. Then, he continued to age and became an old man who was at his final years of life.
His black hair turned gray. Age spots and wrinkles surfaced on his face while his body started to hunch over, forming a hunchback. Only his eyes, however, were pure black all the time. They looked frighteningly calm.
His flesh also started to wilt while his Sea of Consciousness dried up. His body felt like it was going to reduce to ashes…
Only his Dao Heart, however, was as solid as a rock. It was not wavered by anything at all!
After making two hundred steps, Ning Fan reached the fifth stele. The current him was already on the brink of death.
His eyes, however, looked deeper than before. At this very moment when he was about to die, his feeling about death was particularly profound!
"This is death!"
Ning Fan examined his dantian inwardly. In his dantian, a strand of pure black death qi was gradually forming!
Qi of Death! It was the power that countless rogue immortal s had spent their entire lives cultivating and comprehending! If one wishes to become an immortal, they must first experience life and death!
It was not true that one could gain immortality by becoming an immortal. In fact, only those who live a long life without dying deserved to be called as immortals!
There was only a strand of Qi of Death in Ning Fan's body. However, it was like a seed that planted the Dao Comprehension of Death in Ning Fan's heart.
If Ning Fan's Dao Comprehension of Death increases in the future, this seed would eventually germinate and grow and become his aid in becoming an immortal!
"It isn't a bad deal by exchanging twenty thousand years of life for this comprehension. However, I still have to get back the lifespan that I've lost from this Dao Mountain!"
Ning Fan's appearance was old and his voice was croaky but his eyes, however, were firm and stubborn. He scanned across the fifth stele. The stele was carved with five words in the Divine Seal Writing.
"One step returns one day"!
Starting from the fifth stele, the Dao Mountain would return the life that a cultivator had lost from the beginning for every step they make!
Ning Fan dismissed the death qi around him and performed a series a hand seals to display the Fishing Net of Creation.
This technique contained the Dao Power of Life. The moment he used this technique, his eyes instantly turned pure white and his presence was filled with a dense power of life force.
One step, two steps, three steps…
Ning Fan climbed all the way up, passing by the sixth, seventh and eighth stele.
One step one day, one step one years, one step ten years, one step one hundred years… The life he had lost in the previous journey was slowly returning to him.
His appearance gradually turned younger. His complexion slowly regained its vitality. His eyes were becoming deeper, just like the ocean.
Meanwhile, a strand of pure white life qi was forming in his dantian!
The moment the white qi was formed, the black and white qi in his dantian intertwined with each other, forming into a ring that was half-black and half-white. It then hovered above his primordial spirit.
His primordial spirit in the dantian opened his eyes and reached out his two tiny hands to grab the two strands of qi and swallow them into his abdomen.
Immediately, that miniature primordial spirit put on a smile of satisfaction.
"Excellent!"
At this moment, Ning Fan's aura force rose. The black and white qi flashed in his eyes!
Standing on the eight thousand and five hundredth step of the Dao Stairs, Ning Fan's lips curved upward into a smile.
After the formation of the Life and Death Q in his body, he did not get a brand-new ability. His magic power also was not improved. His Dao Heart, on the other hand, was unprecedentedly clear while his Dao Comprehension became more profound.
"The Rain Ancestor's intention of leaving the Dao Stairs behind for the descendants of the Rain World to comprehend life and death was great. However, I just wonder what else is at the higher part of the mountain…"
Ning Fan glanced sideways to look at the nineth stele on the mountainside. It was also carved with five letters.
"Kill a person in ten steps"!
Deep in thoughts, he climbed ten steps slowly. Upon reaching the tenth step a golden light flashed before him and the silhouette of a burly man in golden armors appeared.
The burly man in golden armors had Void Glimpse Stage cultivation base. It was produced by a trace of sovereign qi left behind by the Rain Ancestor.
Moreover, this burly man existed due to the cloud mountain and was formed due to the sovereign qi. Thus, he would not disperse easily unless he is attacked by a sovereign qi attack.
The burly man had a blank expression. The moment he emerged, he instantly roared at Ning Fan coldly.
"Get off the Dao Mountain!"
Ning Fan narrowed his eyes. Since he possessed sovereign qi, he naturally had ways to kill that shadow in golden armor.
However, if he were to do that, he would be exposing his sovereign qi…
Perhaps Revered Sage was carefully observing the illusory realm right now, hoping to see the scene where Ning Fan eliminates the shadow using his sovereign qi.
Ning Fan shook his head.
If I wish to kill this golden-armored shadow, the only method probably is by using my sovereign qi.
However, the core test of this stage is one's Dao Heart. It isn't a test for one's abilities. Therefore, I might not necessarily need to kill this golden-armored shadow in order to clear this stage.
Ning Fan no longer paid any attention to that shadow. He continued moving forward directly and climbed the next jade stairs, trying to go past the golden-armored shadow.
The golden-armored shadow was infuriated. He turned around and hurled a punch at Ning Fan, aiming at his back.
Ning Fan directly summoned the Primordial Lightning Armor. He did not care about the fists from the golden-armored shadow at all.
As that punch was just equivalent to a Void Glimpse Stage attack, it could not break the defense of his Primordial Lightning Armor.
Ning Fan climbed up the stairs calmly. For every ten steps he made, a Void Glimpse Stage shadow in golden armors would appear but none of them could hurt him.
Ning Fan ignored every one of them. Gradually, it was unknown when all the shadows had disappeared…
What replaced them was all kinds of temptations. Shadows of heavenly ingredients and earthly treasures and figures of exquisite and alluring women would occasionally appear along the Dao Stairs.
Ning Fan walked all the way up the stairs. His Dao Heart was as firm as rocks. He did not spare a glance for those shadows.
As for this Dao Mountain, it did not seem to have a peak at all. No matter how long Ning Fan had walked, he also could not reach its end.
So this is the Dao Mountain. The Dao has no boundaries while the mountain had no summit. The path of cultivation itself is endless in the first place.
It's also difficult to say who is the strongest being on the cultivation path.
In the mortal realm, Vein Opening Realm cultivators are unrivalled celestial beings.
In low-grade cultivation countries, Gold Core Realm experts are regarded as old ancestors of a country.
In the Rain World, Void Fragmentation Realm experts are the sovereigns of the world.
In the Four Heavens, perhaps immortal emperors are the rulers.
However, immortal emperors aren't the strongest…
There is no peak in the path of cultivation. However, if one looks back at the path, which cultivation realm isn't a peak?
Today's beginning is yesterday's peak. Today's peak is the next year's starting point…
Ning Fan no longer raised his head and cast his eyes toward the top of the mountain. Instead, he lowered his head and stared at the path beneath his feet.
Slowly, the Dao Mountain no longer existed in front of his eyes. The Dao Stairs beneath his feet also disappeared.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, he suddenly stopped and raised his hand to pat his chest. With a faint smile, he muttered, "Dao Heart. The Dao is in the heart… The Dao Mountain itself does not have an end as the end isn't at the mountain peak but in one's heart!"
"If I make this place as the mountain peak, then here will be the mountain's summit!"
*Chi*
Ning Fan touched his glabella and starlight glinted. The Separation Slayer Sword appeared in his hand. Without hesitation, he raised that sword and slashed the Dao Mountain.
"He is… cutting the Dao!" Luo You suddenly cried out, as if she had just witnessed something astonishing.
Ning Fan had already discovered the true method of clearing this stage and that was to cut off the Dao Mountain. Then, wasn't the place where he was standing become the end of the mountain?
It was the correct way of clearing this stage. Moreover, it was an extremely important step for a true immortal to become an immortal emperor after cultivating for ages!
An immortal is someone who stands on top on the mountain while an immortal emperor must be someone who stands at the peak of the mountain.
Since there is no end in a cultivation path and no peak on the Dao Mountain, one has to cut the Dao in order to stand on the peak of the mountain! Only when one severs the unnecessary and unreachable Dao and keep the Dao beneath their feet can they become an immortal emperor!
Luo You was in disbelief that Ning Fan actually severed the Dao with a slash…
No one had ever told Ning Fan that one would need to cut the Dao in order to become an immoral emperor. He managed to figure it out based on his own power of understanding. It was truly frightening…
Obviously, only an immortal emperor was capable of severing the Dao. The current Ning Fan was still unable to cut off the Dao Mountain.
Even though his sword attack was strong and powerful, when it laned on the Dao Mountain, it only caused the mountain to tremble slightly. After that, everything returned to normal.
Furthermore, his attack barely left any mark on the Dao Mountain…
"It's so unfortunate. Although I have found the true method of clearing this stage, my current level is still far from enough to execute it…"
"The Rain Ancestor travelled across the Four Heavens and Nine Worlds unhindered. His capabilities could even impress immortal emperors. He left behind the Four Stages of Heaven and Earth. This Earth Stage perhaps was meant for the descendants of the Rain World to sever the Dao and become an immortal emperor…"
"Unfortunately, how would the Rain Ancestor be able to imagine that the Rain World would fall into today's situation after his passing. In the Rain World, there isn't an immortal. Besides, there are just a handful of Void Fragmentation Realm experts… I'm afraid no one in this world will be capable of severing this Dao Mountain."
As soon as Ning Fan finished speaking, rays of dazzling light suddenly emerged behind him and sent him out of the illusory realm.
Even though he failed to sever the Dao Mountain and destroy the Earth Stage, he managed to discover the correct method of clearing this stage. Thus, he could also be deemed to have passed the stage.
In a flash, Ning Fan and Yun Daoku appeared in the Temple of Rain simultaneously.
All of a sudden, the entire temple was filled with cries of surprise.
"Oh my god! White-Robed Marquis actually managed to pass the Earth Stage! It's extremely rare to have someone who managed to pass the Earth Stage successfully!"
"Indeed. The last time someone managed to get through this stage seems to be several hundred thousand years ago!"
"It's already a rare occasion for common Void Refinement Realm cultivators to get through a single stage of the Four Stages of Heaven and Earth. White-Robed Marquis, on the other hand, has already passed two stages! According to rumors, he is also a Sixth Revolution Pill Refinement Master. It probably also isn't difficult for him to pass the third stage… It's indeed scary that the White-Robed Marquis can get through at least three stages today!"
"I wonder what prize the White-Robed Marquis will get after passing the Earth Stage!"
The Rain Sovereign's brows were drawn together. Through telepathy, he asked Revered Sage who was standing beside him.
"Did he reveal any sovereign qi when he encountered the golden-armored shadows in the Earth Stage?"
"No…" Revered Sage answered truthfully.
"Is that so… The third stage can't test anything about sovereign qi. It all rests on the fourth stage."
Ning Fan took out his palace lord token. After passing the stage this time, his merit points increased by one billion points again.
Countess silver light dots flickered in front of him suddenly. Those light dots then condensed into a treasure box made out of silver. The item that was stored inside the box seemed to be the prize of passing the Earth Stage.
Before the treasure box was opened, a massive wave of vigorous magic power flowed out from within, causing all old monsters in the temple to catch their breaths in anticipation.
Even the Rain Sovereign's countenance changed with surprise taking over his grim expression. It even made him cast the matter about sovereign qi to the back of his mind!
"This is…! This is…!" Countless old monsters started to breathe more heavily and quickly.
Ning Fan also was slightly shocked. He did not expect that the prize of getting through the Earth Stage would be such an excellent item.
It was a great item and he liked it very much. However, since he obtained the item in the public, it was unknown if it would incite others to seize it from him…
Everyone in the temple could already guess what was inside the box. Ning Fan also did not try to hide it. With a gentle sigh, he opened the treasure box.
The moment the lid of the box was opened, cold white mist immediately wafted out from within.
The item that was stored inside the box was a Dao fruit!
It was a Dao fruit at the level of rogue immortal that was frozen by a seventh grade cold qi!
The magic power that this Dao fruit contains was at least two million units!
It was an extremely tempting item even to old monsters at the level of the Rain Sovereign!
"White-Robed Marquis, if I may be so bold, will you be willing to exchange for some other things with me using this Dao fruit…!?" A few Void Pierce Stage old monsters were already unable to suppress their desire and expressed their intention to trade for that Dao fruit.
"I'm willing to use a seventh-grade immortal void flame to exchange for this Dao fruit!" Even Yun Zhongyan, who was a prince of the Rain Palace, had made an offer.
"…" Although the Rain Sovereign stayed silent, his eyes were also staring at the Dao fruit with desire.
Who would not want something that could allow them to obtain an additional of two million units of magic power…?!
"I'm sorry everyone. I'm not going to trade this Dao fruit for anything!"
Ning Fan kept the treasure box containing the Dao fruit and scanned across the temple with a gloomy look on his face. He stared at every prince, every Void Fragmentation Realm expert and the Rain Sovereign.
Since the item was already exposed in the public, there was no way he could avoid trouble. It can't be helped that some greedy individuals would set their eyes upon the Dao fruit due to its benefits.
Ning Fan believed that with the Black Devil Sect being his backer, people with significant identities like the Rain Sovereign would not go so far to turn against him for a Dao fruit.
However, it was hard to ensure that no ruffian would try plotting against the Dao fruit after this…
The expressions on all the old monsters in the temple was different from each other. No one could tell if someone was already scheming to seize the Dao fruit.
Only the few individuals who had a good relationship with Ning Fan did not have any intention to possess that Dao fruit even though they envied him.
The Pill Sovereign walked out from his place with a cold expression while stroking his beard and sweeping across the hall with his piercing eyes.
"Heavenly ingredients and earthly treasures belong to those who are predestined to get them! This Dao fruit belongs to Ning Fan. Since he isn't willing to trade it, it's better that everyone stops thinking about it. Cultivation level might be important, but it isn't as important as your life. Please consider properly before acting!"
The Pill Sovereign's voice was extremely faint but it sounded threatening. His intention of protecting Ning Fan was apparent.
When everyone saw that Ning Fan had the Pill Sovereign's protection and thought of his background, they had no choice but dismiss the greedy thought in their minds.
The Rain Sovereign did not utter a single word throughout the session.. Only after the Pill Sovereign had come out to say something did he speak with a smile.
