Grasping Evil

After the first round of elimination, the top 100 contestants here within the ten losses category can take a two-hour rest. After that, the second round of fighting will begin in the same location.

As the Adjudicator clapped his hands, over five hundred life-and-death platforms here rumbled back into the ground. Then, the arena transformed, and from the empty stone ground, hundreds of massive blood lotuses sprang forth like stone breaking through the earth.

Ning Fan had inquired about the rules in advance. By the time the Blood Martial ranking battles reached this stage, a two-hour rest would be followed by a brawl.

Once the brawl begins, the blood lotuses here will continuously produce lotus seeds over time. The contendents here must fight for these seeds, and when the brawl ends, their final ranking will be determined by the number of lotus seeds they possess.

Those who achieve a ranking will receive rewards from the Blood Martial Arena. The higher the ranking, the more generous the rewards. As for the Night Spirit Ganoderma, it will only be awarded to the person ranked first.

There are over a hundred participants in the final brawl, but it’s impossible for all of them to survive to the final rankings. This is a personal brawl, but there are no restrictions on the Masters forming alliances. During this brief rest period, many contestants have already begun covertly recruiting allies to better protect themselves and achieve a better score in the ensuing brawl.

Ning Fan is currently ranked ninth, attracting many to seek alliances with him, but most of them are Shedding Void Realm old monsters with no Shattered Thought Rank experts trying to recruit him.

Ning Fan naturally looked down on help from Shedding Void cultivators and rejected all of them.

In the first round of elimination, he didn’t encounter any Shattered Thought Rank opponents, so although he is currently ranked ninth, some Fragmented Thought Elders consider it luck. In their view, if Ning Fan, like the Emperor Butcher, was unlucky to repeatedly encounter people ranked in the top eight, he might have suffered eight losses.

After all, as a newcomer participating in the ranking battles for the first time, even with an impressive record, doubts are inevitable.

Compared to Ning Fan, the newcomer, Xianyu Chun seems more favored. Despite not being at Fragmented Thought cultivation, he received team invitations from several Fragmented Thought Elders. It appears that Xianyu Chun is not new to the ranking battles but has participated several times as an experienced contestant. The name of Plodding Bull has long spread, even previously during the last Blood Martial ranking battle, he had a draw with an Early Shattered Thought, earning him significant fame.

As a result, even with a current record of 7 losses, Xianyu Chun is far more popular than Ning Fan because the other contestants know him well.

While most people are busy forming teams and alliances, there are a few who disdain forming groups, choosing instead to meditate on the spot without speaking to anyone.

Like Bronze Sparrow Immortal, the first place in the previous ranking battle, who prides herself on her strong Fragmented Thought Later Stage cultivation and disdains forming teams. She is a long-haired person in silver armor, whose heavy armor can’t hide her graceful figure, vaguely revealing she is a woman, though her aura is cold without a trace of warmth.

Like Sword Corpse, who is also at the Fragmented Thought Later Stage and disdains forming teams, with a fierce demeanor warning people away. His body emanates corpse Qi, which occasionally transforms into thin, black swords in the air, a seemingly bizarre combination of corpse and Sword Dao abilities.

There are also some intimidating Fragmented Thought Elders who disdain forming teams.

And the Emperor Butcher, equally disdainful...

"This person asking about Supreme Ox Demon, what’s the deeper meaning..."

While Ning Fan was pondering, a figure suddenly approached him, wearing a square Ox Horn Mask—it was Xianyu Chun.

If Ning Fan was correct, Xianyu Chun seemed to have just rejected several team invitations from Fragmented Thought Elders. Coming to him now, could it be to propose forming a team?

"Are you... the master I recognize from another part of me? Sorry, before now, I had not yet received recent memories of that other part of me, so I did not recognize you. My apologies, I hope you can forgive me." It was a transmitted voice, with a tone carrying some guilt.

Ning Fan’s eyes suddenly narrowed... Another Xianyu Chun, indeed intriguing, to able to recognize him through this mask.

It should be known that he could achieve this thanks to the all-pervasive powerful Yunian and the strong perceptual abilities of Unity of Heaven and Man. Aside from him, even Immortal Venerable and Immortal Kings might not see through the mask’s concealment.

Yet this Xianyu Chun could do it... Such a terrifying perceptual ability.

"Indeed, Xianyu Chun is an extremely rare soul twin, and you are his other half." Ning Fan replied.

Even in the previous registration, Ning Fan noticed something peculiar about Xianyu Chun’s body. The cultivation world is not short of special individuals possessing dual souls, referred to as having dual personalities in mortal terms.

Although dual souls exist, they are not that rare, some are innate, and some are acquired. But the ability to cultivate each soul separately, possessing different cultivation, is extremely rare.

The half of Xianyu Chun with incomplete mental clarity, though his cultivation is not high, his aptitude in the Medicine Soul path is once in ten thousand years.

And this half of Xianyu Chun with intact mental acuity seems to have even higher aptitude...

"This matter is the greatest taboo on me, even the other half doesn’t know of my existence. Therefore, when you mentioned the half-soul last time, I was somewhat rude, and I hope you won’t take offense." He does not acknowledge a masterly title, indicating that this Xianyu Chun does not recognize his master status, which suits him fine as he does not seek to take this person as a disciple.

"Everyone has secrets they don’t want others to touch; I can understand."

Ning Fan’s response made Xianyu Chun slightly relieved. He holds no great affection for Ning Fan, nor any animosity. Yet, from the other half’s memories, he felt the other half’s extreme admiration and reverence for Ning Fan, hence he hoped his demeanor would not create a rift between the other half of the soul and Ning Fan.

After some deliberation, Xianyu Chun spoke again, "May I call you Daoist Ning?"

"You may."

"Daoist Ning, if possible, I hope you immediately withdraw from the Blood Martial ranking battle."

"Why?"

"If you perish here, the other half of me would surely be heartbroken. He has witnessed close kin die in front of him, birthing me... My existence’s purpose is to continually become stronger to protect him. I cannot permit another heartache! With your cultivation, you might survive against Shedding Void foes, but against Fragmented Thought Elders, it might spell death. Fighting is blind, better to leave early!"

Ning Fan was momentarily speechless.

So, Xianyu Chun did not come to form a team but to persuade him to drop out... His strength seems underestimated by this half of Xianyu Chun.

"I will not drop out; there are things I want here. If I don’t try, I won’t leave." Ning Fan shook his head.

"If there is something you need, I can help you get it! Is it Nirvana Mother Stone Marrow from the top twenty? Or perhaps Thunder Tempering Pill from the top fifteen, or are you just after the Holy Blood Lotus Seed here..."

Ning Fan merely smiled without speaking, showing no intention to leave, making Xianyu Chun utterly helpless.

Seeing him about to persuade further, Ning Fan suddenly changed the topic, "This part of you hasn’t fully received the recent memories of the other half, correct?"

"Yes, it’s true the reception isn’t complete."

If fully received, he would have known my strength, clearly not fully absorbed yet...

"Despite many perils faced by Xianyu Chun, you never appeared at crisis times, I’ve never sensed your existence before... There must be a limitation to your emergence?" Ning Fan questioned again.

"Yes."

"Alright, I understand now. Go back and rest for a while, make preparations for the upcoming brawl."

Xianyu Chun still wanted to say more, but Ning Fan gestured him away—more helpless now, secretly deciding since this stubborn foreign cultivator persists on staying, he would have to look after this person a bit on behalf of the other half.

The one-hour rest went by quickly, and the silence of the arena was suddenly shattered by deafening shouts.

As the Adjudicator clapped his hand, the hundreds of blood lotuses on the stone ground shot up beams of blood light, and within the blood light, lotus seeds were wrapped in delight.

"It has begun!"

Figures soared high, capturing the flying lotus seeds into their hands and storing them into their identity tags. These Blood Martial identity tags were actually spatial magical treasures, used during the skirmish phase to store lotus seeds. With each seed collected, the blood light on the tag increased a bit.

These lotus seeds bore the name Holy Blood Lotus Seed, and were said to be greatly beneficial for body refinement. After the rank battle concluded, all the seeds the participants collected belonged to them and served as a form of reward.

Ning Fan flickered and, along with the others, rushed towards the convergence of blood light, collecting those lotus seeds and storing them in the identity tag at his waist.

Three Holy Blood Lotus Seeds in hand!

Not far away, three Shedding Void stage old monsters saw Ning Fan acquire three seeds in one go and were extremely envious. They wanted to seize them but hesitated due to Ning Fan’s current ninth ranking. After weighing their options and gritting their teeth, they ultimately chose to risk it and charged at Ning Fan.

The breath of these three was somewhat familiar to Ning Fan, and upon reflection, they seemed to be the Sea Witch Triad who had suffered under his hands...

Haha, truly one finds acquaintances everywhere in life...

Boom!

Without a word, Ning Fan greeted them with an almost brutal punch, sending the Sea Witch Triad flying while spitting blood, though it didn’t harm their lives.

The trio showed immediate horror in their eyes, clearly recognizing Ning Fan’s intent, and without daring to persist, they turned tail and fled.

Ning Fan was not interested in pursuing them, flickering away to collect other lotus seeds. In less than twenty breaths, he had gathered over twenty seeds.

After twenty breaths, the speed of lotus seed generation from the Blood Lotus slowed considerably, occasionally producing more seeds but not as many. The crowd stopped busying themselves with collecting seeds and started fighting and seizing from each other, aiming to enhance their scores by obtaining ready seeds from others.

The battle instantly turned white-hot from the start, with screams echoing incessantly, and soon enough, bodies appeared on the ground.

With over twenty lotus seeds, Ning Fan’s score was ranked thirty-third, naturally attracting some envy. An old monster with the code name Blind Elephant, ranked fifty-eighth, set his eyes on him.

This person, Blind Elephant, was an old monster at the early stage of Shattered Thought realm, carrying a strong scent of blood, having killed several people, but with only eleven lotus seeds.

If he killed Ning Fan and took Ning Fan’s seeds, his score would soar. With a sinister smile, he directly let out a strange roar and turned into an icy light, charging towards Ning Fan.

"Early stage Shattered Thought, huh..."

Ning Fan’s eyes squinted slightly, as the Ancient Demon Annihilation Punch roared out, directly sending the old Blind Elephant flying and spitting blood.

He had shown restraint with that move, but it was enough to make the old Blind Elephant horrified, clearly not expecting Ning Fan’s strength to be so terrifying that he could blast an early-stage Shattered Thought figure flying with one strike.

Luckily for him, he wasn’t attacking Ning Fan alone; he had helpers. His expression quickly regained its composure, shouting fiercely, "If neither of you acts now, then when!"

But as the old Blind Elephant shouted, from Ning Fan’s shadow below suddenly emerged two black figures, who, without a word, thrust their swords at Ning Fan.

In the instant those two emerged, Ning Fan, as if hit by a Body Sealing Technique, was forcibly locked in place, seemingly about to be stabbed by the two emerging figures.

His expression remained tranquil; he had long noticed their ambush within the shadow and while unconcerned about their mere Body Locking Ability, he surged his mana, breaking the seal directly. With a wave of his hand, he shattered their swords and sent the two figures flying back, their bodies crumbling during the retreat.

Those two were half-step into the Shattered Thought realm, brought by the old Blind Elephant as assistants. Their cultivation had not truly reached the Shattered Thought realm, but their ambush techniques were extremely clever, with the old Blind Elephant luring enemies ahead and them delivering the sure-kill strike — an undoubtedly successful technique.

Yet, it failed!

"He shattered Acquired Eight Nirvana Treasures with bare hands, this person is incredibly strong!"

"But I have seen this person’s duel records. He is merciful and soft-hearted, never killing opponents, definitely a Buddha cultivator specializing in compassionate Buddhist Law! This is his greatest weakness. If he kills us, his Buddhist virtues will suffer. He surely hesitates, we needn’t fear him!"

"Our bodies are destroyed; if we return without gains, how could we be satisfied? Attack!"

Blind Elephant and the two ambushers were part horrified by Ning Fan’s strength, part ridiculing Ning Fan’s softness — it was why they dared assault Ning Fan.

There is a type of Buddha cultivator who doesn’t kill not out of reluctance but fear. No matter how powerful, these individuals are not truly intimidating! In their view, Ning Fan was one of those.

What they loved most was killing these Buddha cultivators; if successful, they gain, and if defeated, they preserve their lives.

But alas, they were utterly mistaken. Ning Fan was not a Buddha cultivator, nor was he merciful. In previous duels, he didn’t wish to become a spectacle, hence refraining from killing, but that didn’t mean he’d be lenient towards those actively attacking him.

Especially the old Blind Elephant, repeatedly harboring murderous intent against him. In cultivation, dare to kill, and you must be prepared to be killed!

Accept the fate of death without complaint!

"Die!"

Ning Fan flickered, disappearing instantly. Almost simultaneously, the trio charging ahead exploded as if hit with a powerful strike, followed by the thunderous sound of breakage resonating across! Blood rain scattered across the sky, Evil Qi soared shockingly, and from the surrounding audience seats came countless fervent exclamations!

"He... he actually instant-killed three strong opponents, two half-step Shattered Thought, one early stage Shattered Thought!"

"It’s Slaughter Fox, this person is incredibly strong!"

"Wasn’t he unable to kill? Yet he acted!"

"Body Cultivation! His Body Refinement attainments are terrifyingly high!"

"Slaughter Fox! Slaughter Fox! Slaughter Fox!"

More and more people started chanting Ning Fan’s rank battle alias.

The two half-step Shattered Thought figures had a total of 7 lotus seeds, and with the old Blind Elephant’s seeds, Ning Fan gained 18 seeds from the battle, bringing his total to 41 seeds, raising his rank to 27th!

More participants began to take Ning Fan seriously, even the likes of Bronze Sparrow Immortal and Sword Corpse started to cast their attention towards Ning Fan.

Xianyu Chun, struggling against an early Shattered Thought opponent, was immensely shocked. He believed that, although Ning Fan was formidable, his strength was limited and couldn’t compare to his all-out efforts. But as it turned out, Ning Fan was far stronger than him by a considerable margin. He, at most, could have a hard fight against an early Shattered Thought, with uncertain victory, whereas Ning Fan was capable of instant-killing one; his strength was indeed terrifying!

"With such strength, he could indeed become a mentor to another me..." Xianyu Chun thought to himself, recognizing this for the first time.

Killing the old Blind Elephant was but a minor task for Ning Fan, carrying the momentum of murder. In moments, no one dared cause him trouble, so he took the initiative to make trouble with others, forcibly smashing identity tags of several Shedding Void stage strongmen. He snatched their lotus seeds, and in merely a hundred breaths, he robbed six or seven people, raising his seed count to 55.

Yet his ranking dropped to 29. Clearly, within that period, some gathered more lotus seeds than he did, surpassing him in rank.

The vast battlefield gradually divided into two areas. One area contained people with merely one or two seeds, battling fiercely, killing each other.

The other battleground was the duel area for Shattered Thought rank old monsters — a place where Shedding Void stage cultivators dared not tread!

In a short time, more than ten people had died and over twenty were gravely injured, unable to continue the battle, and fled the arena, removed by the adjudicator.

There are still 63 fighters left!

"Are you called Slaughter Fox? Heh heh heh, hand over your Holy Blood Lotus Seed, and I’ll be merciful enough to leave your corpse intact!"

A flash of blood light appeared, and a figure with Mid-Phase Shattered Thought cultivation emerged in front of Ning Fan.

It was an elder wearing a wine gourd mask, code-named Wine General, reportedly ranked fourth among the previous top fighters. He had advanced flawlessly in the first round, ahead of Ning Fan.

The elder waved his hand, and several bloodfire shadows swept towards Ning Fan.

Ning Fan felt his blood begin to boil and swirl chaotically within him, clearly influenced by the opponent’s Blood Dao Cultivation Technique.

This influence alone could cause a fatal blood explosion in weaker Shattered Thought Early Stage cultivators. This elder, positioned at Mid-Phase Shattered Thought, was undoubtedly a person of exceptional strength!

"A strong contender in Mid-Phase Shattered Thought... Blood Dao secret techniques are lethal when harnessed well, yet against the Ancient Demon, it’s merely trivial."

Ning Fan smirked, not resisting the boiling in his blood but instead allowing his magic blood to lead, making the boiling more fierce.

The elder had initially launched a blood attack on Ning Fan, but gradually, the situation shifted. At some point, the elder’s control over Ning Fan’s blood was suddenly lost; not only that, but he himself began to feel his own blood being influenced by Ning Fan!

"Explode!"

Ning Fan suddenly shouted, and the elder could no longer control his own blood, causing his blood to violently explode within, his body rupturing into a cloud of blood mist. However, the mist quickly reconsolidated into a body, albeit with slightly diminished aura, suggesting some level of injury.

"Unexpectedly, you are the Ancient Demon. According to ancient records, the Ancient Demon is the ancestor of all demon soldiers, while Blood Dao secret techniques are just a lower-tier demon merit law. It was my mistake to confront an Ancient Demon with these!"

The elder’s aura shifted suddenly from Blood Dao to the solemnity of Buddhist Law, waving his hand to unleash a golden sword ray. The Sword Qi swept across the sky, painting it a golden hue, accompanied by the sound of ten thousand Buddhas chanting scriptures.

"It’s the Thousand Buddhas Demon-Slaying Sword! This Wine General’s true identity isn’t a demoness but the abbot of Glass City Xuantong Temple!" The audience exclaimed in shock, though many were immediately executed by swift black shadows for exposing contestant identities.

Even spectators must not violate the Blood Martial Arena’s rules by revealing competitors’ identities!

The golden sword ray was incredibly formidable, imbued with divine skills of Buddha Law, inherently presenting significant harm towards Ancient Demons—naturally, a demon-slaying weapon!

Ning Fan instinctively sensed danger from the sword ray, intending to activate the God-Extinguishing Shield for some protection, but soon his fiery magic blood dismissed the thought, as infinite demonic voices roared within him, birthing intense battle fervor!

I cannot retreat! Against Buddha cultivators, one must not retreat!

Roar!

Ning Fan’s entire being erupted with demonic thoughts, and the will of the Ancient Demon Annihilation Dao nearly seized his sanity instantly, yet he regained it in an instant.

This is the proof of his incomplete grasp of the Ancient Demon Annihilation Will—yet at this moment, he had no time to ponder more, having to comply with this will, gradually benefiting from it!

Boom!

A resounding bang echoed as Ning Fan directly struck the golden sword ray with his fist!

The moment fist met sword, Ning Fan’s body was instantly torn apart by the divine skills imbued in the opponent’s sword, his entire arm reduced to blood mist!

Seeing this, the elder laughed triumphantly and disdainfully said,

"To think a mere Ancient Demon would dare take a head-on hit from the Buddha’s demon-slaying treasure; how foolish! Die!"

He gestured again, causing the golden sword ray to slice towards Ning Fan once more.

Ha.

Facing the elder’s mockery, Ning Fan merely smiled coldly, his right arm igniting with ancient demon fire, regenerating his severed limb instantly before all the spectators.

It’s the Phoenix branch’s Flame Nirvana Technique!

"There’s even an ancient demon god skill! And within this ancient demon god skill, there’s a fusion of demon starfall and a recovery technique I cannot fathom..."

The Wine General elder frowned slightly, yet the sword light didn’t pause. At this moment, Ning Fan regarded the sword light as nothing, once more unleashing fist energy against it. The results repeated—Ning Fan was knocked back, but his arm didn’t explode this time, only the bones shattered, although his flesh remained intact.

The elder frowned deeper, sensing subtle enhancements in Ning Fan after each encounter yet unable to articulate the nature of these improvements. Yet he wasted no time, continuously controlling the sword to launch another assault at Ning Fan.

Ning Fan repeatedly relied on the Nirvana Rebirth Technique to heal his wounds, repeatedly recklessly confronting the sword edge of the Thousand Buddhas Demon-Slaying Sword!

In one confrontation after another, the injuries Ning Fan suffered from the Buddha sword diminished further and further. Gradually, he started sustaining no visible injuries, using his physical defense to withstand the Thousand Buddhas Demon-Slaying Sword attacks!

He began gaining resistance against the Buddha Law demon-slaying force within the sword, even starting to suppress it. In the final encounter, nearly brute force alone shattered the opponent’s Buddha sword!

"Impossible! A demon being able to resist same-level Buddha Law, this is simply unprecedented!" The Wine General elder’s expression drastically changed, yet greater shocks awaited him.

From Ning Fan surged a demonic aura that instilled terror, followed by exceptionally strong fist energy that warped space, unleashed by Ning Fan.

Amidst heaven and earth, the spectacle of myriad Buddha peaks collapsing took shape!

This is the Ancient Demon Mountain-Shattering Strike, masterfully understood by Ning Fan...

Upon this single strike, Ning Fan’s strength momentarily felt drained. The sheer magnitude of the fist energy couldn’t be conveyed, even as the elder wielded another Buddhist magical treasure to intercept it, it was shattered by one punch, leaving him recoiling and vomiting blood—fear gracing his features for the first time during retreat!

As he retreated, the fist aura continued escalating like an erupting volcano, rapidly exceeding his full defensive capacity. Upon his body-protecting spirit armor shattering, his body collapsed completely amidst retreat; only his Spirit narrowly escaped, even the mask shattered, leaving him unable to conceal his identity any longer!

One punch defeated Mid-Phase Shattered Thought cultivator!

"So this is the case... The so-called Buddha suppressing demon is merely suppression at the level of will—Heaven’s will suppressing demon will! Right now, I cannot alter the demon’s fate being suppressed by Buddha, nor can I counter Heaven’s will, but if it’s merely suppressing the will of this Shattered Thought cultivator, I can manage. When my will dominates, reversing suppression over Buddha from demon isn’t impossible—at least within this person, it can be done!"

"And what surprises me is, the more clashes with authentic Buddha Law, the stronger my control over the Ancient Demon Annihilation Dao grows, the greater the synergy! If I engage in enough confrontations, I might completely harness this power!"

Ning Fan examined the Ancient Demon Annihilation Will within him, finding his control over this power strengthened somewhat, evidently gained from the duel with the elder, he felt quite satisfied.

But the Wine General elder’s eyes gleamed with madness; his identity entirely exposed, he now felt unrestrained, he couldn’t leave Ning Fan destroying his body unavenged! He bit the bullet and unleashed ultimate techniques he previously refrained from using, fearing exposure.

"You are strong! But what does that matter? This technique, I didn’t intend to use it, but now I must! Ming Fire Overlap, One Fire Ignite!"

The Wine General elder used some secret technique unknown to the details, his Spirit shrinking considerably, seemingly suffering immense loss.

In the sky emerged an enormous golden lamp spectacle, initially with an extinguished wick, but suddenly igniting as strands of azure flame light threads emanated from the wick!

It’s just a faint thread of light!

Yet it possesses indescribable power, as if a mere strand of light could subdue all beings and dispel all darkness. Even though employed by the drunken old man in his weakened state, it was enough to instantly kill ordinary Intermediate Shattered Thought cultivators. Indeed, the power was terrifying!

"Bright Flame Overlapping Technique! This is the absolute skill of the Bright Buddha’s disciples! Run quickly!"

Some contestants who were close to Ning Fan were shocked and fled, yet they were still too slow. As that faint thread of light softly descended, the area within a hundred zhang of Ning Fan suddenly transformed into a world of dazzling golden light!

Millions of threads of light penetrated everything within a hundred zhang around Ning Fan, releasing sharp cries like those of thousands of birds, directly killing six or seven Shedding Void and Shattered Thought cultivators who couldn’t escape in time!

Below Immortal Venerable, no one could see clearly what happened within that dazzling hundred zhang. There was only the destructive fluctuations of light continuously emanating from the hundred zhang radiance!

"The Slaughter Fox is probably dead..." Some of the spectators who were focused on Ning Fan shook their heads repeatedly.

The drunken old man thought the same and laughed heartily, as it was his dying Spirit using divine skills. If it couldn’t kill Ning Fan, he would have lived in vain.

However, the next moment, he couldn’t laugh anymore.

The hundred zhang light dissipated, revealing a somewhat cracked stone floor and an unscathed Ning Fan!

Even the underground stone of Middle State, known for its hardness, was damaged, yet the Slaughter Fox was unharmed—how could this be!

Impossible!

The old man stared wide-eyed, but he had no choice but to believe. Ning Fan’s figure flickered and moved directly in front of the heavily injured drunken old man’s Spirit, his five fingers pressing down relentlessly to kill him.

If one dares to kill, they must be prepared to be killed!

That was also why Ning Fan activated the God-Extinguishing Shield defense, allowing him to remain unscathed; otherwise, relying solely on Ancient Demon Corpse and Ancient Chaos Nirvana Divine Skills, he wouldn’t dare to take such powerful divine skills head-on. After all, his ancient demon cultivations were lower than the drunken old man’s, making it a leap-level battle, forcing him to use some means.

Deathly silence, a moment of silence on the spectator stands! Killing the drunken old man was not shocking, but walking out unscathed from Bright Flame Overlapping by a high-level cultivator indeed surprised everyone!

The number of lotus seeds increased to 129, ranking ninth! Again, it was the same position, but this time no one believed Ning Fan relied on luck to achieve it!

Even if the Bronze Sparrow Immortal made a move, it wouldn’t be possible to kill the drunken old man so quickly. Ning Fan’s strength was enough to compete for first place if put in the last competition, undoubtedly making Ning Fan one of the black horses of this year’s Blood Martial Rank Battle!

"This person will be a hindrance in this Rank Battle, and should be eliminated at the first instance!"

With a cold glance at Ning Fan’s direction, the Sword Corpse suddenly turned into a gust of wind, rushing toward Ning Fan. The spectators erupted into cheers, clearly excited about the upcoming contest between the Slaughter Fox and Sword Corpse.

However, unexpectedly, that gust of wind transformed from the Sword Corpse was intercepted midway by a figure who stomped him to the ground.

"He is mine, you can’t take him."

The one who stepped on the Sword Corpse’s head, coldly indifferent, was unexpectedly the overlooked Emperor Butcher!

No matter how the Sword Corpse struggled, he only lay on the ground like a dead dog, unable to escape from Emperor Butcher’s foot!

From the first round, Emperor Butcher’s record was mediocre, coupled with participating in Rank Battle for the first time, he wasn’t considered a formidable figure by the spectators. Yet, his move now, easily stepping one of this year’s Rank Battle’s black horses—the Sword Corpse—under his foot, shocked everyone!

Easily subduing a Later Stage Shattered Thought, this Emperor Butcher... what cultivation does he have? Could he possibly be someone who’s half-step into Eternity Realm!

"No, not half-step Eternity; this person, this person..."

An old monster, struggling against a Shedding Void Stage cultivator, suddenly smacked his previously unbeatable opponent dead, astonished.

This old monster mingling among Shedding Void was unexpectedly a half-step Eternity, yet his cultivations couldn’t fathom the depth of Emperor Butcher’s strength!

That Emperor Butcher is absolutely a true Eternal Immortal Venerable or even higher!

With him here, who can claim the first position!

Several others, like this old monster, purposefully suppressing their cultivations while mingling among others as half-step Eternity, showed startled expressions, frightened by Emperor Butcher’s displayed strength.

"Get!"

Emperor Butcher scanned indifferently, instantly sending countless Masters retreating wildly, clearing out a large space just for his duel with Ning Fan.

"Slaughter Fox, battle with me!"

This voice carried unmistakable majesty, echoing across heaven and earth, lingering, causing many to bleed from mouth and nose.

It was not Immortal Venerable’s prestige... but Immortal King!

"I am not your opponent now."

Ning Fan frowned deeply; he had already noticed Emperor Butcher but didn’t expect Emperor Butcher to be so formidable. With him around, attempting to seize first was undoubtedly a wishful thought.

"Indeed, you are not my opponent now, then how about this!"

Only to see Emperor Butcher open his palm, gripping his fingers towards Ning Fan, causing changes to the Punishing Ring within Ning Fan’s body, inexplicably making it disappear bit by bit under Emperor Butcher’s divine skills!

Was the Punishing Ring destroyed by this person?!

Ning Fan was both shocked and enraged; shocked that this person could destroy his Punishing Ring remotely, as this divine technique was indeed unfathomable.

Naturally, enraged that the destroyed Punishing Ring meant he lost his foothold in the Dabei Clan with many matters unresolved, he didn’t want to cause any disputes, he couldn’t yet be hunted by the Central Continent Five Emperors, so why all the endurance, what was it for!

"No, the Punishing Ring isn’t destroyed, this is... Illusionary Control Position power! The Punishing Ring’s disappearance... is just Illusory Art!"

The opponent is not an Immortal King! But an Immortal Emperor, and still a Control Position Great Emperor!

The instant Ning Fan realized, his long-sealed Calamity Blood Cultivation, due to the mysterious disappearance of Punishing Ring, instantly recovered!

An exceedingly strong aura, also reaching the Eternity Realm, surged wildly from him, sweeping through the entire arena as if he was conquering it!

"Eternal Immortal Venerable! This Slaughter Fox... turned out to be an Eternal Immortal Venerable!"

Countless spectators were astounded!

Then it was an unprecedented fervent cheer!