Chapter 410 - The Cloud Realm in the Upper Level (1/2)
A thunderous roar from more than ten lightning spirits of the Void Pierce Stage blasted across the air. The intensity of their combined roar was absolutely domineering.
If it was not for Ning Fan’s strong sword consciousness, his Sea of Consciousness would certainly have shattered this intense roar and his life would end in this Black Lightning Realm.
His Sea of Consciousness remained stable after taking the forceful roar but it still could not avoid taking some serious damage.
Luckily, Ning Fan had accumulated 99 natal stars. Under the healing of his star technique, the injuries on his Sea of Consciousness recovered at an unimaginable speed.
After the roar subsided, the entrance to the Black Lightning Realm disappeared.
The group of lightning spirits thought that the intruder had already been driven off from the Black Lightning Realm by their roar since they did not see a single shadow after their roar died. Gradually, the surroundings became quiet. Only the sizzling sound of the lightning could be heard.
Only then did Ning Fan realize that beneath his feet was a vast black earth while the sky above his head was covered with black thunder clouds.
Every black lightning ray amidst the black clouds had the terrifying lightning power which could kill a Half-Step Void Refinement Realm being. They must never be touched directly!
In the vault of heaven which was filled with black lightning rays, there were fourteen black lightning ferocious beasts. All of them had the Late Void Refinement Realm cultivation base.
Each of the ferocious beasts was bound with a black lightning chain which restricted their movements.
The black lightning chains were shot out from the layer of clouds, connecting to the heavens.
Under the shackles of the chains, the fourteen ferocious beasts were limited to move around within the area of ten thousand li* (500m per li) near the entrance. They were unable to go anywhere beyond that area.
“Who was so strong to actually chain fourteen Late Void Refinement Realm beings here as the gatekeepers of the Black Lightning Realm?!” With Ning Fan’s insight, he noticed at first sight that chaining these ferocious beasts at this area was the idea of the lord of the Black Lightning Realm.
They were meant for guarding the entrance!
“Other than Thunder Sovereign Bu Zhou, is there anyone else who could do such an unbelievable thing?” Hong Yi who was next to him under concealment spoke with a flat tone, as if she was speaking something that was unrelated to her.
Judging from her tone, she seemed not to be injured by the roar of the lightning spirits at all.
Ning Fan’s eyes darkened.
This lady sure reserves a lot up her sleeve.
After they had walked until ten thousand li* (500m per li) away from the entrance, they were in the safe zone. It was because the Late Void Refinement Realm ferocious beasts were unable to move beyond such distance.
The spirit sense of a Void Refinement Realm ferocious beast could cover approximately up to an area of five hundred thousand li* (500m per li).
When Ning Fan and Hong Yi had travelled beyond one million li* (500m per li), only then did they reveal themselves one after another.
Removing their concealment was not their original intention. It was just because there were already many black lightning bamboo growing in this area.
Each of the lightning bamboo had flickering black electricity. The lightning bamboo at the center of the area was especially gigantic. Its lightning power was also the most terrifying one of all the lightning bamboo around. Even though they were ten thousand zhang* (3.33m per zhang) away from the enormous bamboo, its lightning power directly forced Ning Fan out of his concealment.
“This is… the dark golden lightning bamboo?!” Ning Fan’s eyes glinted with a hint of surprise.
The lightning bamboo at the center of this area alone was at least one million zhang* (3.33m per zhang) tall. By looking at its size, it was not an ordinary bamboo. In fact, it was a bamboo mountain.
Above the bamboo mountain, there were countless black lightning rays which gave Ning Fan an immense sense of danger.
All of the lightning bamboo in this area did not grow any bamboo leaves at all. However, there was a black teleportation formation located at the highest point of the central lightning bamboo. It was condensed using lightning power and it was at the closest range to the thunder clouds in the heavens. The place where the teleportation formation would send one to was unknown.
Ning Fan spread his spirit sense. From this central lightning bamboo, he discovered nearly ten thousand traces of qi which was extremely obscure.
All this qi was very similar to that of the fourteen ferocious beasts which he encountered earlier, but it was a lot weaker. Each of them emanated the aura of the Nascent Soul Realm and above.
Among the ten thousand traces of qi, there was no lack of Divine Transformation Realm beings. Of course, what Ning Fan dreaded the most was four particular traces of qi. The beings which gave off this qi had actually attained the Void Refinement Realm!
After sensing Ning Fan and Hong Yi’s presence, countless lightning spirits gave out dangerous hostility.
Ning Fan’s eyes turned serious.
If we approach the gigantic bamboo at the center rashly, there will certainly be a bitter battle.
“The dark golden bamboo leaves aren’t here, are they?” Ning Fan asked with a doubtful tone.
“Precisely. This place is just the lower level realm of the Black Lightning Realm. The dark golden bamboo leaves grow above the thunder clouds.”
“Above the thunder clouds?” Ning Fan raised his head and gazed into the sky. Not only were the black thunder clouds extremely dangerous, they seemed to be extremely thick as well. Judging from their appearances, they were probably at least one million zhang* (3.33m per zhang) thick.
There was no cultivator below the Void Fragmentation Realm who could travel across the black thunder clouds directly and reach the realm above the thunder clouds.
“Rest assured. I am not going to ask you to go through the sea of thunder clouds directly. Instead, I want you to use the lightning teleportation formation on the central lightning bamboo to get to the cloud realm in the upper level. When you arrive there, you will naturally be able to help me pluck the dark golden bamboo leaves.”
“Teleportation formation, huh…?” Ning Fan nodded his head. He, of course, had noticed the teleportation formation situated at the peak of the central lightning bamboo.
If he is going to use that formation, perhaps he could reach the cloud realm in the upper layer safely.
However, Ning Fan had a doubt in his mind which he did not have an answer for.
Hong Yi has great strength. She completely has the capabilities to intrude the Black Lightning Realm, ascend to the peak of the central lightning bamboo, use the teleportation formation to get past the thunder clouds and reach the cloud realm on her own.
There doesn’t seem to be a reason for her to ask for my help.
Apparently, Hong Yi had sensed Ning Fan’s doubt. Her brows slightly knitted together as she began to explain.
“Don’t tell me that you still haven’t noticed that I am just in the form of a primordial spirit?””
“The form of a primordial spirit?” Ning Fan was stunned. When he activated his Fu Li Eye, only then did he notice an unusual thing from Hong Yi’s body.
Hong Yi’s body was not a true physical body. Instead, it was the form of a primordial spirit which was extremely solid, like Luo You.
Such a solid primordial spirit was nearly no different from a physical body. Besides, in order to avoid enraging this lady, Ning Fan did not try to probe her background all this while. Thus, he did not realize that she was in the form of a primordial spirit.
As soon as Ning Fan knew that she was just in her primordial spirit form, Ning Fan’s doubt was instantly cleared.
A primordial spirit was like a cultivator’s root. If their physical bodies are injured or destroyed, they could still reconstruct their physical bodies with the help of their primordial spirit. Moreover, they could also seize someone else’s body and be reborn.
However, if a cultivator’s primordial spirit is destroyed, it would mean an absolute death to them.
On the other hand, a primordial spirit did not have a strong and firm defense like a physical body. It could be very easily hurt.
The cloud realm in the upper world was rather dangerous. Since Hong Yi was just in her primordial spirit form, she naturally had concerns about her own safety and would not willingly put her primordial spirit at risk.
“If I didn’t meet you, my original plan is to consume all the golden leaves in the Golden Lightning Heavenly Dwelling in order to regain my Mid Void Refinement Realm cultivation base. Then, I will enter the Black Lightning World to kill a Late Void Refinement Realm ferocious beast and turn it into a spiritual puppet to help me pluck the bamboo leaves in the cloud realm. However, this method is very time-consuming. Furthermore, due to the uniqueness of the cloud realm, it will be very difficult for dead creatures like spiritual puppets to successfully pluck bamboo leaves in the cloud realm… Fortunately, you appeared. It was good news to me as it saved me lots of trouble. Even though your cultivation base is not strong, you have quite some impressive techniques which make you more useful than a spiritual puppet.”
Hong Yi’s tone was indifferent but she did not cover up her true intention at all.
She was using Ning Fan in the first place to take the risk for her. Her motive was obvious. Thus, there was no point covering it up.
She spoke her true objective frankly and straightforwardly without beating around the bush. After listening to her words, Ning Fan held his chin and pondered.
Looking from Hong Yi’s objective, her motive was direct and straightforward: just to get the dark golden bamboo leaves.
When she revealed that she wanted to recover her cultivation base, this information was enough for Ning Fan to conclude that she was probably in the same situation as Luo You who had suffered grievous injuries which affected her primordial spirit and needed to heal her primordial spirit in order to regain her strength.
If that’s the case, this lady perhaps possessed the Late Void Refinement Realm or Peak Void Refinement Realm strength at first. That’s why she has such a terrifying aura force and baleful qi.
Ning Fan shifted his gaze to the central bamboo lightning and his eyes became even more serious.
What made him more serious was not the ten thousand hidden lightning spirits but the lightning teleportation formation instead.
This formation connected directly to the cloud realm in the upper layer. He was not sure what kind of danger awaited him there.
Apparently, even Hong Yi was reluctant to enter the cloud realm. Wouldn’t he only have a slim chance of surviving if he goes there?
Since the matter had developed to such a point, it was impossible for him to back off and go against his words.
However, he must gain a more thorough understanding about the cloud realm in the upper layer first. He had to know how to pluck the dark golden bamboo leaves and what kind of danger he would possibly face.
Moreover, there was one thing he wanted to make sure of… After he helps Hong Yi, how could she assure him that she would not turn against him and abandon him, just like the saying goes: destroy the bridge after crossing the river?
“I can help you. But who is going to assure my safety?”
“What kind of assurance do you want?” Hong Yi asked coldly.
“Give me all the information related to the cloud realm in the upper level. I need to know how dangerous it is to ascend the cloud realm.”
“This request is not excessive… All the related information is here. You have a look yourself and make your own judgment. From my perspective, your physical body is not weak. There is at least ninety percent chance that you will survive without suffering injuries after ascending to the cloud realm. As for the danger you may face, you don’t have to worry much about that. I’m just worried how many bamboo leaves you will be able to pluck… Gathering seven pieces of those leaves is quite difficult to you. But I need at least seven of them!”