Chapter 429 - Slaughter the Tower (5) (1/2)
Translator: GE_Team Editor: GE_Team
After Zhu Feng’s death, Ning Fan wiped out the eleventh floor of the lightning tower.
As for the ten Void Refinement Realm experts who had come to seek their deaths, four of them died after they had been surrounded by Ning Fan, Lei Shiyi and his men and suffered a violent retaliation from them.
Only six of them survived but Lei Shiyi had turned them into spiritual puppets with a lot of effort.
All of their primordial lightning had been extracted and given to Ning Fan. After eliminating the lightning lord of the eleventh floor, Ning Fan had already gathered 11 pieces of bamboo leaves. It was more than enough to save Hong Yi.
Since Lei Shiyi maintained the cultivation bases of the spiritual puppets, he naturally could not obtain the lightning jades that would form after their deaths.
However, the value of a piece of golden-grade lightning jade was not as high as a spiritual puppet to the current Lei Shiyi.
After eliminating Zhu Feng, he would be the lightning lord of the eleventh floor from today onwards. In order to rule the eleventh floor, he would naturally need strong military strength.
These spiritual puppets were refined from Void Glimpse Stage experts. Thus, their cultivation bases were slightly lower than the Void Glimpse Stage but higher than the Half-Step Void Refinement Realm. It was similar to an ‘illusory’ cultivation realm.
Only undead spirits could manipulate this kind of spiritual puppets. Besides, they could not be brought outside of this lightning tower. Therefore, it was normal for Ning Fan not to desire these spiritual puppets. Moreover, he was not interested in them at all and was more than willing to let Lei Shiyi have them.
The group of ten Void Refinement Realm experts and one thousand Divine Transformation Realm cultivators who had come to “seek their deaths” had contributed 1000 traces of Divine Transformation Realm primordial lightning and 10 traces of Void Refinement Realm primordial lightning. Ning Fan devoured every last one of them.
The quality of his lightning armor improved by quite a lot. Once he devours another 2000 traces of Divine Transformation Realm primordial lightning or 20 traces of Void Refinement Realm primordial lightning, his lightning armor would then break through to the third level of the gold grade.
In the world of mortals, some countries prospered and flourished from wars and battles. As for Ning Fan and Lei Shiyi, they had also expanded their forces and increased their cultivation bases due to this battle.
After activating the teleportation formation, the group of cultivators was transferred to the twelfth floor of the lightning tower one after another, sprinting all the way up.
The twelfth floor was a world full of clouds and mist. Each of the floating clouds in the air were lightning clouds.
There were many undead spirits and ferocious beasts hiding amidst the lightning clouds. Usually, every single undead spirit who had come to the twelfth floor would be extra cautious whenever they travelled across the sea of clouds.
Even Lei Shiyi had to exercise restraint whenever he occasionally went to the twelfth floor in the past.
Since Ning Fan was taking the lead this time, all of them unleashed all of their aura forces. Lei Shiyi and his men also no longer exercised restraint and marched through the sea of clouds in a domineering manner.
Any experts who blocked their path or ferocious beasts that tried to ambush them were all killed without mercy.
In the lightning palace on the sea of clouds of the twelfth floor, the lightning lord, Huang Yunzi, wore a grim expression.
He had already heard of the news about the annihilation of the eleventh floor and had also heard that Zhu Feng died in the hands of a Half-Step Void Refinement Realm junior. As for that junior, he’s the one whom King Ying Long had commanded his subordinates to hunt down. It has been rumored that his strength was equivalent to that of a Void Inquiry Stage expert and he could even put up a fight against a Void Pierce Stage expert.
“Ridiculous! It’s absolutely impossible for a Half-Step Void Refinement Realm cultivator to possess Void Inquiry Stage strength, much less the Void Pierce Stage!” Huang Yunzi had always refused to believe these rumors.
He had refused to obey King Ying Long’s command and did not send anyone to the lower floors to pursue Ning Fan.
He could not believe that Ning Fan was capable enough to kill Zhu Feng but he still believed that Lei Shiyi was not someone weak.
He had met Lei Shiyi before. Based on the impression he had of him, the latter was someone who hid his actual strength. Thus, it was not strange for him to be able to eliminate Zhu Feng and rule the eleventh floor.
Huang Yunzi was a Void Inquiry Stage expert but he was reluctant to yield to King Ying Long just like many other Void Inquiry Stage experts.
He sent out more than ten Half-Step Void Refinement Realm cultivators to secretly find out the truth about Lei Shiyi and his men.
If Lei Shiyi and his group really had the strength to rebel against King Ying Long, he would be more than willing to let them pass through the twelfth floor directly without hindering them so that they could get to King Ying Long even faster.
The information that was brought back by the spies he had sent out was exactly the same.
The strength of Lei Shiyi’s group was indeed not weak. However, the leader of this group of experts was not Lei Shiyi but Ning Fan instead.
“How is this possible? Judging from Lei Shiyi’s shrewdness, how is it possible for him to listen to the commands of a Divine Transformation Realm junior for no reason…? Could it be that that junior really has strength comparable to that of a Void Inquiry Stage expert? That is plain bullshit!”
The darkness in the sky had yet to completely fade away as there was still a faint crescent moon hanging in the sky. It was close to daybreak.
At this moment, outside the lightning palace of the sea of clouds, rumbling noises echoed across the air and the earth and mountains also shook. Then, a clear and loud voice carrying a frightening baleful qi resounded into the lightning palace from afar.
“I am Zhou Ming. I intend to borrow Lightning Lord Huang Yun’s teleportation formation for our own use. I hope that the Lightning Lord can ignore the rules and make an exception just this once to accommodate this junior!”
That voice revealed Ning Fan’s Half-Step Void Refinement Realm qi which did not seem to be something that deserved Huang Yunzi’s attention.
However, the intensity of the baleful qi in this voice was beyond his imagination! Just as the voice entered his ears, Huang Yunzi felt layers of illusions appear in his vision. All of the scenes of these illusions were bloody and gruesome and he could see a flowing sea of blood flooding mountains!
“How many Void Refinement Realm old monsters had this young man killed?! Why does he have such a terrifying baleful qi?!”
Huang Yunzi could not sit still any longer.
There was no need to find out about Ning Fan’s background. Huang Yunzi had already deeply realized that Ning Fan was someone he must never offend.
Huang Yunzi might be a Void Inquiry Stage expert but he was still slightly inferior compared to Zhu Feng. He could not afford to offend Ning Fan!
“Men! Pass down my command. No one is allowed to attack the members of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion. We shall let them use the teleportation formation freely. Anyone who defies my order will be executed!” Huang Yunzi commanded his subordinates in a dignified manner.
“B-But… Young Master has already led a team of cultivators to attack them. Aside from that, he claimed that he wants to kill Zhou Ming to gain some merit and obtain King Ying Long’s favor.” A Void Glimpse Stage old monster spoke with a trembling voice.
“He’s truly an evil son! I should not have adopted him in the past!”
Huang Yunzi’s expression changed greatly. He would not dare to provoke Ning Fan at all but his ‘good’ son had gone to create troubles for him instead! His so-called son was actually just an adopted son. If it wasn’t because he valued his adopted son’s family background which he could take advantage of, how would it be possible for him to keep such a foolish person as his foster son!
Without hesitation, he summoned all of the experts under him. His expression was filled with solemnity.
He did not plan to have a battle with Ning Fan but had planned on stopping his adopted son from doing so.
When Huang Yunzi hastily rushed to the teleportation formation, his heart skipped a beat as he saw Ning Fan being surrounded by two Void Glimpse Stage experts.
It’s too late!
One of the two Void Glimpse Stage experts was short while the other one was chubby. Both of them were his adopted son’s personal bodyguards. Each of them had terrifying cultivation bases of the Early Void Refinement Realm.
Behind the two Void Glimpse Stage experts stood a young man who wore a set of peach-colored robes. He had a Late Divine Transformation Realm cultivation base. His demeanor was arrogant while his peach blossom eyes carried a hint of contempt. Disdainfully, he spoke.
“Ku Da and Ku Er, both of you kill this man. When I request recognition from King Ying Long for my great service, I will record yours as well! Beware, this man is rather cunning. His concealment technique is very profound. You must not give him time to conceal himself!”
“Rest assured, Young Master! We know what to do!”
The two Void Glimpse Stage experts smiled coldly. Both of them took out a handful of silver ash which gave off a stench similar to the repulsive smell of fish and scattered it in the sky. Then, the ash turned into sparkles of silver flames and disappeared.
At the next moment, Ning Fan felt his body being marked with a trace of a fishy stench that could not be removed or neutralized.
Ning Fan’s eyes turned grim. Apparently, these two experts wanted to lock on to his position using this stench.
He did not want to cause trouble because he did not have much time. He just wanted to hurriedly get to the twenty-fourth floor and get rid of King Ying Long. Then, he could leave this lightning tower and accomplish the mission Hong Yi assigned to him.
Moreover, Yue Lingkong was also waiting for the golden leaves from Hong Yi to save her life. Ning Fan did not have the mood to waste his time here.
However, since the opponents had come to challenge him and they even wanted to kill him to gain merits, he, of course, would not tolerate it based on his personality.
“Young man, you have been marked with our ‘Fire Scale Ash’. Even if you use your concealment technique, you won’t be able to hide this stench from us. In other words, your concealment technique has already been neutralized by us. Let’s see what methods you still have to resist Void Glimpse Stage experts like us!”
Both Ku Da and Ku Er were smiling coldly, feeling rather pleased with themselves.
Lei Shiyi was greatly enraged. The two of them were indeed despicable. Once a person is stained with the Fire Scale Ash, the smell would not go away for a few days.
Even if Ning Fan goes to the thirteenth floor, he would certainly be hindered by this ash and lose the ability to conceal himself. That is to say, he would lose a means to assure his own safety.
“Fellow Daoist Zhou, I’ll deal with the two of them. You lead the group to the thirteenth floor first!” Lei Shiyi roared in anger.
“No need! I am the one they are looking for. Just two Void Glimpse Stage experts are not worth mentioning at all!”
Ning Fan’s eyes shone with a cold light which was like the twinkling of stars in the night sky. At the next moment, at the peak of the sea of clouds, ninety-nine black stars emerged one after another.
As the starlight shone upon him, Ning Fan reached out his palm and did a grabbing motion. Traces of starlight suddenly transformed into a bow of stars which emanate a dazzling black light!
As he bent the bow, heaven and earth shook!
As he drew the bowstring, a single arrow that terrified the world was formed!
Ning Fan aimed his arrow at Ku Da and Ku Er. All of a sudden, the satisfied smile on their faces faded as surprise filled them!
A look of absolute terror appeared in their eyes. They were unable to quell it!
Gasps of astonishment filled the area of ten thousand li* (500m per li).
“Starlight Healing Technique! Besides, they are the black stars from the rumors! This person has ninety-nine natal black stars protecting him. Unless there’s a Void Fragmentation Realm old monster who can destroy his stars, mere Void Refinement Realm old monsters are unable to break this person’s star technique! This person can nearly be immune to all Void Glimpse Stage attacks!”
A Void Glimpse Stage expert was extremely amazed. It was his first time witnessing the Starlight Healing Technique with his own eyes. This technique had been passed down in the ancient books of the older generations. This technique was extremely strong. Someone who possessed this technique was definitely invincible compared to the experts of his level!
“What is that bow technique?! The destructive power of that bow can cause heaven and earth to tremble, make the great momentum waver and even cause the hollow space in the skies to collapse! This old man definitely can’t withstand the might of a single arrow from that young man!”
Another Void Glimpse Stage expert felt his scalp go numb by just looking at Ning Fan’s bow and arrow. He then dismissed the intention of approaching them to stop the fight.
Huang Yunzi let out a sigh. He knew that once Ning Fan fires this arrow, both Ku Da and Ku Er would be grievously injured and suffer a regression in their cultivation bases even if they survive.
He wanted to save the two of them but he was unable to do anything at this point.
Lei Shiyi was secretly keeping an eye on him. Once he tries to intervene, Lei Shiyi would then act against him.
Aside from that, Huang Yunzi was really reluctant to offend Ning Fan. If he makes a move to save the two of them, it would be extremely difficult to reconcile with him.
While keeping an eye on Huang Yunzi, Lei Shiyi was inwardly shocked.
Even Lei Shiyi did not have the confidence of withstanding the might of Ning Fan’s arrow without suffering any injuries.
Furthermore, if Ning Fan breaks through to the Void Refinement Realm, he would be strong enough to severely injure Lei Shiyi with this arrow, even if he only has the weakest cultivation level among Void Glimpse Stage experts.
“Back then, on the eleventh floor, this young man really did not use all of his strength…” Lei Shiyi nodded and muttered to himself. However, his expression suddenly changed.
After Ning Fan drew the bowstring, he did not fire the arrow immediately. Instead, he dispersed the bow and arrow. His expression looked like he was dissatisfied with it.
“It’s not right. It isn’t the same… The reason why there’s a huge difference in destructive power between Great Emperor Mo Luo’s Star Punishing Bow and mine… is it because my version does not have devil marks?”
Ning Fan closed his eyes, recalling Mo Luo’s impressive display when he defeated Tai Su with a single arrow.
Suddenly, Ning Fan reached out with his hand and summoned the starlight to condense another bow. This time, he did not immediately pull the bowstring. He merely held the bow with one of his hands while using the other to form hand seals and performed an ancient and mysterious devil art.
All of a sudden, immense devil qi rose above the sea of clouds. Traces of devil marks condensed and imprinted themselves on the bow.
The expressions of Ku Da and Ku Er lit up.
At first, they laughed at Ning Fan. However, when they saw Ning Fan summon the black stars, condense a bow from it and pull its bowstring, they were nearly close to peeing their pants in fright.
The destructive power of that single arrow was indeed too terrifying. Even if the two of them defend against the arrow with all of their strength, they would certainly suffer severe wounds even if they survive.
Just as the two of them were prepared to go all-out to block the arrow, Ning Fan dispersed his devil bow. Now, he was condensing devil marks instead.
They did not know what the devil marks were but they inwardly thought that Ning Fan probably had yet to complete this magic technique.
“How dare you make an empty show of strength in front of us with an incomplete magic technique. You are blatantly courting death!”
The two of them no longer felt fear. Each of them formed hand seals with their ten fingers and displayed Low-Grade Mortal Void Realm magic techniques to attack Ning Fan.
“Divine Thunder of the Nine Spheres of Heaven!”
“Peak-Blasting Five Lightning Strikes!”
Layers of thunder clouds took form and trillions of golden lightning rays turned into lightning bolts which struck the earth. All of them emitted earth-shattering thunderclaps.
This was the joint attack of two Void Glimpse Stage experts. Even ordinary Void Glimpse Stage experts would find it difficult to defend against it. As for Ning Fan who was in the middle of completing his magic technique, he would probably die after being struck by the lightning bolts!
“Be careful!” Lei Shiyi’s eyes flashed with surprise and he wanted to lend Ning Fan a hand.
“Don’t interfere!”
Ning Fan did not even turn back. He made a sudden step forward and stopped condensing the devil marks. There were already ninety-nine traces of devil marks on the black star bow.
He secretly learned these devil marks from Mo Luo’s bow technique.