"Will I lose a day of my lifespan after ascending the first step …?"
Ning Fan was stunned at first. Then, he wore a contemplative expression. His eyes swept across the surroundings and found an ancient silver-colored stone tablet at the foot of the mountain. There were five words carved on it. It was a divine seal script.
"One step means one day of life!"
Sure enough, just like what he had guessed, he would lose a day of life every time he ascended the Dao Stairs.
"It's a test of my Dao Heart, huh …?"
Ning Fan's eyes darkened. He lifted his foot and ascended the second step.
After ascending the second step of the Dao Stairway, he lost another day of lifespan.
He stood still as if he was deep in thought. However, he was not frightened by the Dao Stairs that could reduce his lifespan.
To Ning Fan who still had twenty thousand years of life left, a few days of life was not worth mentioning.
As he ascended the stairs step by step, he would lose a day of life for each step he ascended.
When he stood at the 365th step, he lost a year of life in total.
When he ascended to the 730th step, he lost a total of two years of life.
When he ascended to the 730th step, his eyes became deeper and deeper.
When he ascended to the 3650th step, he had already lost ten years of life.
On the hillside next to this step, there was a second ancient stone tablet with five words carved on it.
"One step means one year of life!"
Ning Fan frowned. Could it be that from this step onward, every time he ascends the next step, he would lose a year of life instead of a day …?
Losing a year of life for every step he took. Even Ning Fan had to think twice before he acted.
After pondering for a while, Ning Fan took a step forward and ascended to the 3651st step.
In an instant, his lifespan was reduced by one year!
As if he did not feel anything, he continued ascending the two hundred steps. When he stood at the 3850th step, he lost another two hundred years of life.
On the hillside next to him, there was a third stone tablet with five words carved on it.
"One step means ten years of life!"
Ning Fan thought to himself. Could it be that from this step onward, I will lose ten years of life for every step I take?
Looking up along the mountain path, he would see the fourth stone tablet after another two hundred steps. With his eyesight, he could vaguely see the inscription on it. It was still five words.
"One step means one hundred years of life!"
After ascending two hundred steps, there were still the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth stone tablets … As for the details, he could not see it clearly.
Ning Fan closed his eyes and hesitated.
This Dao Ascending Staircase of the Earth Stage would actually reduce one's lifespan. Moreover, the higher one climbed, the greater the loss of lifespan would be. It was clearly unwise to continue climbing.
Even though Ning Fan had twenty thousand years of lifespan, he would die of old age in the Earth Pass if he loses a hundred or a thousand years of his lifespan with each step he takes …
Should he give up? This trial will reduce my lifespan. Why not give up on the Earth trial?
But why would climbing the Dao Mountain cost one his lifespan … What was the profound meaning behind the Rain Ancestor setting up this test …
Ning Fan closed his eyes and cleared his mind of all distracting thoughts. He could only hear the sound of the mountain breeze caressing his face.
His mind became more and more tranquil, and gradually, he could no longer hear the sound of the wind.
Gradually, he sensed a mysterious and bewitching power hidden in the Mountain of the Way beneath his feet.
This power was extremely mysterious and contained the dao power of controlling life and death …
"Life … Death …"
Ning Fan raised his head and looked at the boundless Dao Stairs. His eyes gradually deepened as if he could see through everything.
In the first half of this staircase, every step of the jade stairs was surrounded by death qi which could take away one's life force.
However, from the fifth stone stele onwards, the jade stairs were surrounded by life force which could replenish one's life force.
The Rain Ancestor certainly would not set this test to take away the lifespan of the juniors.
The first four stone steles took away one's lifespan with each step. The last four stone steles returned the lifespan to the juniors.
From life to death and from death to life … During this process, cultivators could sense life and death.
This was a chance to comprehend life and death and to ascend to the Immortal Realm!
If one's Dao Heart was not firm, most of them would directly give up when they see that climbing the Dao Stairs would reduce their lifespan.
Only those with a firm Dao Heart would persist in climbing the stairs. Only when they reach the fifth stone stele, their lifespan would return and they would obtain a chance to comprehend life and death.
"In the first four stone steles, every step I take will gradually age and bring me closer to death … Among them, there is the Great Dao of Death."
Ning Fan formed a hand seal with his fingers and displayed the Immemorial Fishing Line's ability.
Traces of black fishing line twined around his fingers. His eyes strangely turned pure black and his body was surrounded by Death Qi.
One step, two steps, three steps … Ning Fan climbed higher step by step. Every step he took, he would lose ten years of his lifespan.
He did not stop moving as if he did not feel anything. After two hundred steps, he reached the fourth stone stele. He had already lost 2000 years of his lifespan.
From this step onwards, every step he took would cost him one hundred years of lifespan.
Without any hesitation, Ning Fan climbed higher step by step and walked towards the fifth stone stele.
One step would take a hundred years, ten steps would take a thousand years and a hundred steps would take ten thousand years …
From the fourth stone stele to the fifth stone stele, he would need to climb 200 steps which would cost him twenty thousand years of lifespan.
Normally, most of the cultivators who continuously climbed to this point would retreat in fear. However, Ning Fan's heart was neither confused nor fearful!
One step, two steps, three steps … Ning Fan's lifespan was gradually depleted and his face began to turn old.
When a cultivator's lifespan was about to reach its end, he would gradually show signs of aging.
His life force was depleting rapidly and the Death Qi became denser and denser.
From a young man, he would gradually turn into a middle-aged man. Then, he would turn into an old man.
His black hair turned white and wrinkles appeared on his face. His back began to hunch. Only his eyes remained pure black. They were so calm that it was a little scary.
His flesh and blood began to wither. His Sea of Consciousness began to dry up. His physical body seemed like it was about to turn into ashes and dissipate …
Only his Dao Heart was as firm as a rock. It would not be shaken by anything!
After two hundred steps, Ning Fan reached the fifth stone stele. At this moment, he felt like he was about to die.
However, his eyes were unprecedentedly deep. At this moment when he was on the verge of death, he had an unprecedentedly deep feeling towards death!
"This is death!"
Ning Fan examined his dantian. Inside his dantian, a wisp of pure black Death Qi was slowly being nurtured!
Death Qi! This was the power that countless rogue immortals had cultivated and comprehended in their entire lives! It was because in order to become an immortal, one must first comprehend Life and Death!
Becoming an immortal didn't necessarily mean that one could achieve immortality. Instead, only those who could achieve immortality were worthy of being called immortals!
Ning Fan only had a wisp of Death Qi. However, it was like a seed that planted the Dao of Death in his heart.
As his comprehension of the Dao of Death increases, this seed would eventually take root and sprout, becoming a great help for him to break through to the Immortal Realm!
"Losing twenty thousand years of lifespan in exchange for a near-death experience isn't a bad deal. However, I still have to get my lost lifespan back from the Dao Mountain! "
Ning Fan's face was old and his voice was hoarse. His eyes, however, were firm and persistent. His gaze shifted to the fifth stone stele. Five words were carved on it using divine seal script.
'One Step Returns One Day'!
From the fifth stone stele onwards, the Dao Mountain would return the lifespan that the cultivator lost with each step he took and each step he ascended!
Ning Fan dispersed the Death Qi around his body. Then, he formed a hand seal and displayed the ability of the Fishing Net of Fortune.
This technique contained the Dao of Life. At the moment he displayed it, Ning Fan's eyes turned pure white and his body was filled with dense life force.
One step, two steps, three steps …
Ning Fan continued to climb, passing through the sixth, seventh and eighth stone steles.
Each step he took was one day. Each step he took was one year. Each step he took was ten years. Each step he took was one hundred years … His lifespan was returning to his body bit by bit.
His appearance gradually became younger. From an old man, he turned into a middle-aged man and then from a middle-aged man, he turned into a young man.
His white hair gradually turned black. His complexion gradually became smoother. His eyes became as deep as the ocean.
Inside his dantian, a trace of pure white life qi was born!
At the moment when the white qi was born, the black and white qi in his dantian intertwined and formed a ring that was half black and half white, coiling around his primordial spirit.
The primordial spirit in his dantian opened its eyes. Its two tiny hands reached out and grabbed the black and white qi, swallowing them in one gulp.
Immediately, the tiny primordial spirit revealed a satisfied smile.
"Not bad!"
At this moment, Ning Fan's aura force soared. The black and white qi in his eyes flashed for a second!
Standing at the 8500th step, the corner of Ning Fan's lips curved into a smile.
After accumulating the Life and Death Qi in his body, his abilities and magic power did not improve. However, his Dao Heart became unprecedentedly clear and his Dao Comprehension became even deeper.
"The Rain Ancestor is quite thoughtful. He actually left behind the Dao Stairway for the cultivators of the Rain World to comprehend life and death. However, I wonder what is at the higher levels …" Ning Fan glanced sideways at the ninth stone stele.
The ninth stone stele was erected on the hillside at the side. There were five words written on it.
'Kill one in ten steps'!
He pondered for a while and slowly walked up to the tenth step. Immediately, a golden light flashed in front of him and the shadow of a burly man in golden armor appeared.
This burly man in golden armor had a Void Glimpse Stage cultivation base. He was the manifestation of the trace of sovereign qi left behind by Ancestor Yu.
Moreover, this burly man was born from the cloud mountain and took form from the sovereign qi. Unless he is attacked by the sovereign qi, he would not dissipate easily.
The moment the burly man's expression appeared, he immediately scolded Ning Fan coldly. "Get down from the Dao Mountain!"
Ning Fan's eyes narrowed. He had the sovereign qi in his body. Of course, he had a way to kill this golden-armored shadow.
However, doing so would inevitably expose his sovereign qi …
Perhaps Revered Ming was carefully observing the illusory realm at this moment, hoping to see the scene where Ning Fan used his sovereign qi to kill the shadow.
Ning Fan shook his head. In order to kill the golden-armored shadow, perhaps he could only rely on his sovereign qi.
However, this stage was a test of one's Dao Heart and not one's abilities. It did not mean that he had to kill the golden armor to pass the test.
Ning Fan no longer looked at the golden armor. He directly walked forward and climbed the next jade step, passing by the golden armor.
The golden armor was enraged. He turned around and threw a punch at Ning Fan's back.
Ning Fan directly summoned his Primordial Lightning Armor and completely ignored the fist light of the golden-armored shadow.
That fist light merely had the destructive power of a Void Glimpse Stage attack. It could not break the destructive power of the Primordial Lightning Armor.
Ning Fan climbed up calmly. Every time he climbed ten steps, a Void Glimpse Stage golden-armored shadow would appear. However, none of them could hurt Ning Fan.
Gradually, Ning Fan no longer paid attention to those shadows. Unknowingly, all of them had disappeared …
What replaced them were the shadows of heavenly ingredients and earthly treasures that would appear from time to time on the Dao Stairs along the way. There were also enchanting women with all kinds of temptations …
Ning Fan walked all the way up the Dao Stairs. His Dao Heart was as hard as a boulder. He did not even look at those shadows.
However, this Dao Mountain did not seem to have a peak at all. No matter how long Ning Fan walked, he could not reach the end.
This was the Dao Mountain. The Dao was boundless and the mountain had no peak. The path of cultivation had no end in the first place.
On the path of cultivation, it was hard to say who was the strongest.
In the mortal world, a Vein Opening Realm expert was an unrivalled immortal master.
In a low-grade cultivation country, a Gold Core Realm expert was the old ancestor of a country.
In the Rain World, a Void Fragmentation Realm expert was the ruler of a world.
In the Four Heavens, perhaps immortal emperors were the true rulers.
However, immortal emperors were still not the strongest …
There was no peak in the path of cultivation. However, if one were to look back, which cultivation realm was not the peak?
The starting point of today was the peak of yesterday. The peak of today was the starting point of the next year …
Ning Fan no longer raised his head to look at the peak of the mountain. Instead, he lowered his head and looked at the path under his feet.
Gradually, the Dao Mountain no longer appeared in front of him and the Dao Stairs under his feet.
After walking for an unknown period of time, he suddenly stopped walking. He raised his hand and patted his chest. Then, he smiled gently. "The Dao Heart is the Dao Heart. The Dao is in the heart … The Dao Mountain has no end in the first place. The end is not at the peak of the mountain but in the heart!"
"If I say this place is the peak of the mountain, then this place is the peak!"
* Chi *
Ning Fan touched his glabella. Starlight flashed and the Separation Slayer Sword appeared in his hand. He raised his hand and slashed at the Dao Mountain.
"He's … cutting his Dao!" Luo You suddenly cried out in surprise as if she had seen something shocking.
Ning Fan had already found the real way to pass this stage, which was to flatten the Dao Mountain with a single slash of his sword. Then, wasn't the place where he was standing at the peak of the mountain?
This was the correct way to pass this stage. Besides, it was the most important step for a true immortal to transcend time and become an immortal emperor!
Immortals were people who stood on the mountain while immortal emperors were certainly people who stood at the peak of the mountain.
However, the path of cultivation was boundless and the Dao Mountain had no peak. In order to stand at the peak of the mountain, one must cut his Dao! Only by cutting off the unnecessary and untraceable Dao and leaving the Dao beneath one's feet could one become an immortal emperor!
Luo You could not believe that Ning Fan actually cut his Dao with a single slash of his sword …
No one had ever told Ning Fan that he needed to cut his Dao to break through to the immortal emperor realm. It was really terrifying that he could comprehend it to this stage with just his own comprehension ability …
Obviously, only immortal emperors could cut their Dao. Ning Fan was currently unable to destroy the Dao Mountain.
Even though his sword strike was powerful, it only made the mountain tremble slightly when it landed on it. Then, everything returned to normal.
His sword strike did not even leave an inch of mark on the Dao Mountain …
"It's a pity. Even though I've seen through the true method to pass this stage, my cultivation base is far from enough to pass it …"
"In the past, Ancestor Yu roamed the four heavens and nine worlds unhindered. The strength of his abilities could even shock immortal emperors. He left behind four stages of heaven and earth. Perhaps this earth stage was left for his descendants to cut their Dao and become emperors … "
"It's a pity that Ancestor Yu would never expect that the Rain World would fall to such a state after his death. There are no immortals in the Rain World and there are only a few Void Fragmentation Realm experts … I'm afraid no one can break this Dao Mountain. "
As soon as Ning Fan finished speaking, rays of light suddenly rose around his body, teleporting him out of the illusory realm.
Even though he did not break the Dao Mountain and destroy the earth stage, he still found the correct method to pass the stage. Thus, he could be considered to have passed the stage.
With a flash of light, Ning Fan and Yun Daoku appeared in the Rain God Palace at the same time.
All of a sudden, the entire Rain God Palace was filled with exclamations.
"Oh my god! Marquis White Robe has actually passed the earth stage! Only a few people can pass the earth stage! "
"That's right. The last time someone passed the earth stage seemed to have been hundreds of thousands of years ago!"
"Out of the four stages of heaven and earth, it is already very difficult for ordinary Void Refinement Realm cultivators to pass even one stage. Marquis White Robe has already passed two stages consecutively! Rumor has it that he is a Sixth Revolution Pill Master. I'm afraid it won't be difficult for him to pass the third test … Today, Marquis White Robe has passed at least three of the four tests of heaven and earth. How terrifying! "
"I wonder what kind of Earth Pass reward Marquis White Robe will get!"
The Rain Emperor frowned, and transmitted his voice to the Venerable One beside him, asking, "Did he reveal even the slightest bit of his sovereign's aura when facing the illusory golden armor of the Earth Gate?"
"No …" Revered Underworld answered honestly.
"Is that so … We can't find anything in the third test. Everything depends on the fourth test."
Ning Fan took out the Palace Lord Token. This time, his merit points had increased by another ten billion.
Suddenly, countless silver dots of light flashed in front of him. Those dots of light condensed into a silver treasure box. The box seemed to contain the reward for clearing the Earth stage.
The treasure box had yet to be opened, but a vast wave of magic power rippled out, causing all the old monsters present to hold their breaths.
Even the Rain Emperor's eyes were filled with shock, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face. For a moment, even his imperial aura was thrown to the back of his mind!
"This is! This is …! "Countless old monsters began to pant.
Ning Fan was also a little surprised. He did not expect that the reward for clearing the Earth stage would be such a good item.
This item was very good and he liked it very much. However, he did not know if it would attract the attention of others if he obtained it in front of everyone …
Since everyone had already guessed what it was, Ning Fan no longer concealed it. He let out a soft sigh and opened the treasure box.
At the moment he opened the treasure box, it immediately emitted traces of cold white mist.
What was placed inside the box was a Dao Fruit!
It was a Dao Fruit of a Rogue Immortal sealed in ice by seventh grade cold qi!
This Dao Fruit of a Rogue Immortal contained at least two million units of magic power!
Even to an old monster at the Rain Sovereign's level, it was extremely tempting!
"Marquis White Robe! This Dao Fruit … Are you willing to exchange it with me?! "A few Void Pierce Stage old monsters could no longer hold back their desire and asked Ning Fan for an exchange.
"I'm willing to exchange a Seventh Grade Immortal Void Flame for this Dao Fruit!" Even a prince like Yun Zhongyan had spoken.
"…" Even though the Rain Sovereign remained silent, his eyes were also staring at the Dao Fruit with great desire.
Who would not want to gain two million units of magic power for no reason?!
"I'm sorry. This Dao Fruit … I won't exchange it with you!"
Ning Fan kept the treasure box of the Dao Fruit. His eyes swept across the Rain God Palace, the princes, the Void Fragmentation Realm experts and the Rain Sovereign with a serious expression.
Now that this item had been exposed, it might cause some trouble. Under the temptation of great benefits, it was inevitable that some greedy people would covet this Dao Fruit.
Ning Fan believed that with the background of the Black Devil Sect, the Rain Sovereign and the others with great identities would not turn against him for a Dao Fruit.
However, it was hard to guarantee that there would not be any desperate people who would covet this Dao Fruit …
The old monsters' eyes were filled with different expressions. They did not know if there were people who were plotting against this Dao Fruit.
Only a few people who were on good terms with Ning Fan did not have any intention of coveting it even though they were envious of him obtaining the Rogue Immortal's Dao Fruit.
The Pill Sovereign stroked his beard and walked out with a cold expression. His sharp eyes swept across the main hall.
"Heavenly ingredients and earthly treasures belong to those who are fated with them! This Dao Fruit belongs to Ning Fan. He doesn't want to exchange it with anyone. It's better for all of you not to covet this Dao Fruit. Even though cultivation base is precious, it is not as precious as your life. All of you should think twice before you act! "
The Pill Sovereign's voice was extremely calm but it carried a hint of threat. His intention to protect Ning Fan was obvious.
When the others saw that Ning Fan was protected by the Pill Sovereign and they were worried about his identity and background, they could only dispel the greed in their hearts.
The Rain Sovereign did not say a word. After the Pill Sovereign spoke, he said with a smile. "Marquis White Robe is the palace lord of a branch of my Rain Palace. Since he is unwilling to exchange for the Dao Fruit, no one can threaten him. Whoever dares to harm Marquis White Robe will become the enemy of my Rain Palace. I won't let him go! "
The Rain Sovereign's words also carried a hint of threat.
Even though the Rogue Immortal's Dao Fruit was precious, it was far from enough for the Rain Sovereign to become an immortal.
Ning Fan was very useful to the Rain Sovereign. His Indestructible Fire Body was the Rain Sovereign's hope to become an immortal … The Rain Sovereign would not fall out with Ning Fan just for a Dao Fruit!
Ning Fan cupped his fists at the Pill Sovereign and the Rain Sovereign to express his gratitude, thanking them for helping him out of his predicament.
He was being polite to the Rain Sovereign but he was grateful to the Pill Sovereign from the bottom of his heart. It was because the Pill Sovereign was also protecting Ning Fan from the bottom of his heart.
"I will host the third test. Are you ready?" The Pill Sovereign waved his hand, signaling Ning Fan not to thank him and said with a smile.
"I'm ready!" Ning Fan answered with a clear voice.
"The third test is about pill formation and miscellaneous techniques. There are four tests of heaven and earth. Those who pass one of the tests will be qualified to become the palace lord of a branch palace. If your Dao Comprehension, Dao Heart and Divine Abilities are not up to standard but you are proficient in pill formation techniques, you can also become a palace lord. It has been many years since we parted ways in the Endless Sea. Today, I will test your pill refinement techniques! You can also treat it as my second time giving you pointers. "
The Pill Sovereign smiled. His eyes were filled with kindness as if he had made some kind of decision.
I shall give Ning Fan a big gift for the third test.
It was just like how his master had treated him countless years ago … (To be continued)
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
