Grasping Evil

The Trial of Illusions is held in the forbidden area of the Great Brightness Temple—the Fire Soul Tower.

The Dabei Clan has a total of one hundred and eight grasslands, each hiding a seal deep underground, which suppresses the Fire Soul Clan.

The seal is a passage suppressing the Fire Soul Clan, a perilous place where even an Immortal Emperor might perish. Ning Fan was once captured by Sanyan Demon Child Meng Zhen and taken to the Southern Frontier Steppe’s underground seal. Meng Zhen originally intended to throw Ning Fan into the seal to be burned to death. However, Ning Fan outsmarted him, causing Meng Zhen to fall into the seal and die.

The terrors of the seal deeply embedded themselves in Ning Fan’s heart, making him completely abandon the idea of exploring this secret place. What Ning Fan feared even more was the Saint’s Fierce Thoughts deep within the seal. This thought has persisted through the ages, easily killing Immortal Emperors like ants. Because of the Saint’s Fierce Thoughts deep inside the seal, killing all who dare to trespass, the Fire Soul Clan has been unable to escape their underground prison for generations.

Forever suppressed!

There is also a seal beneath the Central State Grassland, located right beneath Liuli City. However, unlike other grassland seals, when initially discovered, the flames in the abyss were extinguished. And in the deepest depths, there were no signs of the Saint’s Fierce Thoughts. The passage to the underground Fire Soul world has also been mysteriously destroyed, making it impassable. Strangely, an ancient stone tower stands in the deepest part of the Central State seal.

This tower is called the Fire Soul Tower by Central State experts. The terrain inside is complex, and for some reason, it’s filled with terrifying illusory powers. Real landscapes blend with fake ones, and without sufficient proficiency in Illusory Art, one might perish inside.

Due to its dangers, since its discovery, the tower has been sealed by the Great Brightness Temple in cooperation with many experts, and it has become a forbidden area of the temple.

However, despite its dangers, the Fire Soul Tower is a treasure trove for fire cultivators.

The Fire Soul Tower consists of six levels. The first level’s origin fire is twice as potent as the outside world, the second level four times, the third eight times, and so on, until the sixth level’s origin fire is sixty-four times stronger than outside! Cultivating fire-based Divine Skills within would result in rapid progress.

As such, some self-confident experts from Central State often request entry into the Fire Soul Tower for closed-door cultivation.

Before the second round of the Tomb Grabbing began, many experts were in closed-door cultivation within the Fire Soul Tower. However, due to the need for this forbidden place for the second round’s Illusion Trial, those in closed-door cultivation were cleared out in advance and can only return after the second round ends.

The rules of the Illusion Trial require teams comprised of three tribes to participate together.

Each tribe receives a special map of the Fire Soul Tower. The landmarks on the map are grayed out initially, but as participants explore the tower, the areas they traverse light up on the map. The final trial score depends on how much of the map is illuminated.

Ning Fan glanced at the scroll map in his hand.

It was just issued by a monk from the Great Brightness Temple, a specially crafted magical treasure. As Ning Fan concentrated, the text and drawings on the scroll changed immediately.

Initially, the scroll showed the map of the first level of the Fire Soul Tower, all in gray.

With a thought, it transformed into maps of the second, third... sixth levels, all still gray, yet to be illuminated.

"The Illusion Trial requires three tribes to team up to explore the Fire Soul Tower and light up the map. Every forward step a participant takes in the tower lights up the corresponding darkened area on the map, emitting white light, signifying that the participant has been there. Ultimately, the extent of the illuminated map determines the trial score. For the first level, lighting one mile of the map earns 2 points. On the second level, 4 points per mile; third level, 8 points, and so on. This is because the higher the level, the greater the risk, and naturally, the higher the score..."

"There is a degree of map-sharing among teamed tribes. Teamed tribes can advance together or disperse and illuminate maps individually. If Tribe A illuminates a map section that Tribe B has not, Tribe B can choose to share it and gain half the score of the illuminated area..."

"If you seize another tribe’s map, you gain full control over their illuminated areas... In other words, the trial encourages tribes to seize from each other—in this stage, killing is without consequence."

"If a team is not formed within the time of one incense stick, participation in the trial is forfeited..."

Ning Fan stowed away the map, scanning his surroundings.

As the team formations just started, some tribes had already formed teams, clearly having pre-arranged them. Others were forming teams on the spot, busy searching for companions.

With the benefit of shared maps, many tribes prioritized potential teammates based on their power and capacity to aid their tribe.

Ning Fan’s impressive strength in the trial reflected his capability. Despite representing Tamo Clan alone, most tribes saw him as a powerful ally.

Unfortunately, having crossed Emperor Lou Tuo, few tribes dared to approach Ning Fan with team requests.

Those who did were mostly Emperor Baihua’s enlisted helpers. Of these, the most powerful, undoubtedly, was the Sea Witch Sect.

"I am Wuxx Yan, a Sea Witch Sect witch, and like Brother Ning, I am here on behalf of Lord Baihua. Would Ning Fan be willing to team up with me?"

Wuxx Yan approached Ning Fan with a warm smile.

Ning Fan gave Wuxx Yan a brief glance, nodded, and agreed to her request.

The fact that Wuxx Yan dared to openly claim to be working for Emperor Baihua meant her words couldn’t be false. Teaming up with her meant he wouldn’t need to worry about betrayal since their goals aligned—to win the South Sea Spring Water for Emperor Baihua.

Ning Fan’s calm demeanor surprised Wuxx Yan. This Ning-named foreign cultivator seemed unfazed by her beauty.

After all, the beauty of a Sea Witch Sect witch was quite renowned across the entire Dabei Clan. Even those Immortal King-level old monsters would linger a bit when looking at her, yet Ning Fan appeared indifferent.

He’s truly a man with a heart as hard as iron.

"Hehe, being able to team up with Brother Ning is truly my honor. But let me say this beforehand, if during the magical trial Sha Bailou comes knocking on the door, I won’t be helping. With Brother Ning’s abilities, I believe you can handle this on your own."

"No problem, in our team-up, we only need to share the illuminated areas. As for other personal grudges, we won’t be involved."

Ning Fan said indifferently.

As for this woman Wuxx Yan, Ning Fan saw through her well; she is very calculating. If his trial results were not good, she would definitely not consider him for teaming up. Even now, while teaming up with him, she surely wouldn’t want to get involved in his conflict with Sha Bailou.

To put it bluntly, she is willing to share benefits with Ning Fan, but if there’s trouble, she would run faster than anyone.

Seeing Ning Fan agree so readily, Wuxx Yan was quite satisfied. The two extended their thumbs, pressed them into red clay, and then pressed them onto each other’s maps. This way, their maps were now contractually linked and could be shared.

"The magical trial requires three tribes to travel together; we still lack one helper. I wonder if Brother Ning has any suggestions for the remaining helper?" Wuxx Yan initially planned to team up with Ning Fan, and then find another Immortal Venerable level tribe to team up with. Sha Bailou was certainly not considered; she intended to invite either Hongcang or Stone of Seabed.

Unexpectedly, Hongcang teamed up with Sha Bailou! And Stone of Seabed arrogantly rejected Wuxx Yan’s invitation, opting to team up with two Fragment Thought Sect tribes.

As a result, Wuxx Yan could only choose from the numerous Fragment Thought Sect tribes to invite. Some of these tribes were quite good, but the decision of whom to ultimately invite as a helper needed Ning Fan’s opinion. In this regard, Wuxx Yan was not a domineering person.

"No problem, Daoist Wuxx can invite whoever you see fit, I have no objections..."

Just as Ning Fan finished speaking, suddenly there was a commotion from a nearby Huanhai Clan team.

It appeared that the team leader of Huanhai Clan—a Mid-Phase Shattered Thought scarred man—was arguing with his Dao partner.

And his Dao partner was known as Supreme Ox Demon, but under the alias Qingling.

Listening to the argument, it seemed that Supreme Ox Demon casually mentioned, "Why not team up with Tamo Clan," which led to her being scolded by the scarred man.

No wonder he was furious. He had always suspected that his little wife had something with Ning Fan, and now she openly suggested teaming up with Ning Fan from Tamo Clan, treating him like a decoration! This was blatant infidelity!

"You’re such a needing woman! Doesn’t my spear already satisfy your needs? What’s so good about that foreign cultivator! Look at his build, it’s obvious he lacks skills in bed! How could he compare to me!"

"..." Being called a woman of ill-repute by a mere Fragment Thought junior filled Supreme Ox Demon’s heart with killing intent, yet she suppressed it instantly.

"Fine! Great! It seems I’ve pampered you too much lately, making you forget your place. You’re just my cauldron furnace, bought from the flower house! You’re nothing but a worn-out woman with arms for a thousand pillows! Without me, you’d be living like a dog! I gave you a new life and you now wish to betray me!"

"..." Supreme Ox Demon appeared timidly with her head lowered, but inside, killing intent surged! Arms for a thousand pillows, hahaha...

Ning Fan couldn’t help but sweat for the scarred man who didn’t know how close to death he was.

The scarred man seemed to be addicted to his rant and continued to scowl, completely ignoring the team-up issue. Gradually, the incense burning time was almost over. Except for Huanhai Clan, all other tribes had formed teams of three.

Those who hadn’t completed the team-up were only Ning Fan, Wuxx Yan, and the argumentative Huanhai Clan left.

"Brother Ning seems quite interested in Huanhai Clan..." Wuxx Yan looked at the drama of Huanhai Clan with profound meaning, wondering if Ning Fan really had something with that woman Qingling? By appearance, Qingling was only moderately attractive and couldn’t compare to her own beauty. Yet Ning Fan seemed indifferent to her beauty, showing interest in that young girl instead; his taste was indeed unique.

Due to these considerations, Wuxx Yan didn’t invite anyone else to join but waited for Ning Fan’s decision. She figured Ning Fan likely wanted to team up with Huanhai Clan, and she didn’t mind doing him a favor by inviting Huanhai Clan.

Additionally, Huanhai Clan was not considered a powerful tribe but had outstanding accomplishments in the Illusory Art Path, surpassing many powerful tribes. Thus, teaming up with Huanhai Clan wasn’t truly a disadvantage.

Regarding Wuxx Yan’s words, Ning Fan was noncommittal, merely watching the drama unfolding between the couple in Huanhai Clan.

And so time flew by, the scarred man finally regrettably realized that the time for team formation was running out, and at that moment, the tribes that hadn’t completed team-ups were just Huanhai Clan, Tamo Clan, and Sea Witch Sect!

He had no choice but to team up with Ning Fan! Otherwise, once the incense burned out, Huanhai Clan would lose eligibility for the magical trial!

"Damn it, I have no choice but to team up with that foreign cultivator... I wonder if such big shots are willing to team up with us."

The scarred man, after all, was only domineering within his own circle. He dared to be fierce with his little wife, but it didn’t mean he was foolish enough to openly provoke Ning Fan, Wuxx Yan, those seasoned monsters.

After witnessing Ning Fan’s trial of strength, if he dared provoke Ning Fan, he’d be a fool!

So, when Wuxx Yan suggested teaming up with Huanhai Clan, the scarred man gratefully thanked her for the invitation and greeted Ning Fan politely, pretending to be oblivious to the flirtations between Ning Fan and Supreme Ox Demon.

Though furious about his little wife’s infidelity, considering this cooperation, the weak Huanhai Clan teaming up with the powerful Sea Witch Sect and Tamo Clan wasn’t too bad.

If the tribe could achieve better results, losing a negligible little woman... then so be it!

The man with the scar gritted his teeth and silently made a decision in his heart. If during the process of forming the team, the young woman and that outside cultivator with the surname Ning secretly communicated... then let her be! Given the seductiveness of that young woman, more likely than not, once the team is successfully formed, she will run off to cozy up with the outside cultivator with the surname Ning, and he’ll just pretend he didn’t see it!

Sure enough, just as the man with the scar expected, once the teaming relationship was confirmed and they pressed the red clay fingerprint on their maps from respective tribes, Emperor Butcher headed off to talk to Ning Fan as if no one else was present.

Naturally, it was a voice transmission conversation, one could see her lips moving, but couldn’t hear what she said to Ning Fan.

The man with the scar only felt a burning jealousy, but could only sigh helplessly, not daring to be angry at Ning Fan.

In the audience, Ouyang Nuan and Burying Moon expressed that they had seen Ning Fan flirt with girls numerous times, and didn’t mind. They were only surprised that Ning Fan didn’t even spare married women, which seemed to be the first time.

Ning Fan, unaware of being misunderstood, continued his conversation with Emperor Butcher.

His expression was somewhat solemn because Emperor Butcher told him some news.

"Kid, you need to be careful during this illusion trial. It’s not just Tuo’s disciple who wants to kill you. According to the information from my spies in Sanyan, members of Sanyan will appear during this illusion trial to kill you, reportedly led by Meng Zhen’s elders."

"Meng Zhen’s elders?" Ning Fan’s eyes slightly narrowed.

Meng Zhen was already a powerful Eternal Immortal Venerable, so his elders would at least be Immortal Kings, and possibly Immortal Emperors...

He was mentally prepared for Sanyan’s revenge, after all, he had killed the Stone Flame Demon Child, and if there was no revenge, Ning Fan would find it unbelievable.

He just didn’t expect this revenge to occur right at this moment, during the illusion trial...

"But you can rest assured, as long as you can meet my requirements during this illusion trial, in return, I will protect you somewhat. The Meng clan within the Stone Flame is not the strongest. Let alone if just some members of the Meng clan come, even if the Stone Flame Master himself arrives, if I choose to protect you, he won’t be able to harm you!" Emperor Butcher said very arrogantly, with a somewhat domineering demeanor.

"I haven’t yet thanked the lady for the Illusory Night Pearl. If you say the lady gave me this item without asking for anything in return, Ning Fan absolutely won’t believe it. The lady has appeared before Ning Fan multiple times, I don’t know what you want? Are we enemies or friends? It would be good to judge clearly."

"I have a request from you, naturally without malice. This matter is not urgent, I will tell you later, but I can assure you, this matter also offers you great benefits. Oh, and there’s another matter where I need your help. After entering the Fire Soul Tower, I must mobilize all my cultivation to accomplish something, during which this physical body won’t be able to exert any cultivation and will be extremely weak. At that time, you must protect me well and don’t let my body die tragically inside the Fire Soul Tower. If this happens, then the entire trip to the Fire Soul Tower would be wasted."

"This... rest assured, during the lady’s cultivation limitations, I will certainly protect you somewhat."

For the time being, Emperor Butcher did not seem to be hostile, so Ning Fan treated her courteously while remaining cautious internally, curious what exactly Emperor Butcher wanted from him, perhaps related to the existence of the Fire Soul Tower?

Soon, a stick of incense burned out, and then Heaven Capital Emperor opened a light gate at the center of the square. One by one, tribes who completed their team formation proceeded under the guidance of Bright Temple Monks, entering the light gate in threes.

The stone terrain of Middle State was extraordinarily tough, and reaching the deep underground two-world seal was challenging using earth evasion abilities. This light gate provided direct access to the two-world seal’s Fire Soul Tower.

Ning Fan’s group quickly entered the light gate, along with Emperor Butcher, Wuxx Yan, and others, they were randomly transported to a location on the first level of the Fire Soul Tower.

What immediately greeted them was Fire Soul power, twice as intense as that of the outside world! This Fire Soul Tower is indeed a paradise for practitioners of fire! If not for the purpose of illusion trials, Ning Fan would have been happy to practice here and condense some Fire Path Ferocious Origin Crystal, certainly beneficial for higher-level Feng Yin-Yang cultivation.

Forget it, the major issue takes precedence, cultivation must be temporarily set aside.

Ning Fan looked at the dim map; as they stepped into this place, a dark region on the map randomly illuminated with white light.

The illuminated area was labeled as [Illusion Bamboo Forest? East].

Ning Fan looked around, surrounded by collapsed and abandoned temples, and looking west, he could see vast expanses of rugged purple bamboo, towering ten-thousand feet high. Rather, the bamboo forest was enveloped with Yin energy, echoing with ghostly cries, and occasionally with beast roars that soared into the sky, carrying immobilizing Immortal King power!

"Hiss? Our team’s luck is really bad to be randomly transported to the third of the four dangerous places on the first level of the Fire Soul Tower, Illusion Bamboo Forest! Based on the map, this bamboo forest is guarded by Illusory Beasts of Immortal King level, attacking anyone attempting to enter the bamboo forest! The Illusion Bamboo Forest spans a hundred miles, if the map can be activated here, a huge score can be earned, and it’s recorded that deep in the Illusion Bamboo Forest, there are many ancient expensive pills... Too bad this place is too dangerous, it’s clearly not somewhere we can venture."

Wuxx Yan looked at the map, then at the Western Purple Bamboo Forest, somewhat regretfully, shaking her head.

The Fire Soul Tower is very peculiar, every time before the second round of tomb raiding begins, the heavens within the Fire Soul Tower would collapse entirely, and then be reborn. Essentially, every time the second round of tomb raiding starts, it marks the beginning of creation and destruction within the Fire Soul Tower.

The freshly generated heavens are extremely unfamiliar environments for any entrant. Though Wuxx Yan had entered the Fire Soul Tower a dozen times outside of tomb raiding periods, looking at this place now still felt unfamiliar and foreign.

If not for the map’s introduction, she wouldn’t even know where she was standing.

That Immortal King beast’s roar imposed a massive sense of danger on Wuxx Yan, making her unwilling to enter the depths of the Illusion Bamboo Forest. Lighting up the map can entirely be done elsewhere, there’s no need to risk life and death just for a hundred miles of scoring here!

Not only Wuxx Yan, but also the powerful ones from the Sea Witch Sect and Huanhai Clan, upon hearing the roars of the Immortal King beasts here, they all felt fear, wishing to leave immediately, and making a noise with no semblance of the calmness expected of immortal cultivators.

Ning Fan, however, had no intention to leave in a hurry.

The map might describe this place as dangerous, but as he activated the illusion-breaking ability of the Fu Li demon eyes on his left eye, the bamboo forest appeared like a mirage to him, disappearing bit by bit!

Gradually, in his eyes, where was there any existence of an Illusory Bamboo Forest here? It was instead another form altogether!

The so-called Illusory Bamboo Forest was a lie! The dangers recorded on the map did not exist at all! With the illusionary art skill of Wu Yan and others, they couldn’t see through it, but they couldn’t fool the eyes of Ning Fan!

"This place..."

Ning Fan was pondering when a fragrant breeze suddenly blew onto him. First, the person’s black hair brushed across his face, and then his embrace softened.

It was the feet of the Emperor Butcher who suddenly went weak, as if unable to stand, and she directly collapsed limply into Ning Fan’s arms!

The Emperor Butcher’s ears immediately turned red, and her heart was secretly startled. She thought to herself that the force of creation and destruction of the Fire Soul Tower seemed to suppress her more strongly than before. Caught off guard, she found her entire body limp, and even the strength to stand was drained!

A pair of rounded breasts were pressed against Ning Fan’s chest. Even though the Emperor Butcher acted decisively in killing, she was still a woman, and the physical contact somewhat embarrassed her.

She wanted to get out of Ning Fan’s embrace and stand up, yet couldn’t muster the strength to stand steady enough, causing her to feel a bit of a headache.

"... You said before that you couldn’t mobilize your cultivation, but you didn’t say you couldn’t even stand steady..." Ning Fan felt speechless and communicated telepathically. He found the beauty in his arms to be like a hot potato, unsure whether to throw or hold. That body was soft and fragrant, yet in essence, she was an absolute disaster star...

"Hmm, I miscalculated. The tower’s force is stronger than before... Never mind, I have no strength in my body now at all, so you may as well carry me forward," the Emperor Butcher said straightforwardly. It seemed like being carried was just a small matter, no harm, no foul.

"..." a speechless Ning Fan.

"What? Not willing? Hehe, you’re not even daring to hold a woman delivered to your doorstep? When you used that bewitching technique on me earlier, I didn’t see you acting so timidly."

"... Why don’t you find your Dao partner? Wouldn’t having him hold you be better?"

"Hehe, hehe... Don’t mention the word ’Dao partner’ to me. I’m nearly at my breaking point already, only fearing that if I can’t hold back, I might slaughter the entire Huanhai Clan. If that truly happens, it would violate my and Supreme Ox Demon’s promise."

"I see, it’s only because of a promise that you’re suppressing your intent to kill... Supreme Ox Demon..." Ning Fan’s eyes slightly narrowed.

"Alright then... I can’t even stand, let alone walk. Why don’t you, young man, put in some effort and carry me for a while? In return, if you encounter an illusory formation here that you can’t break, I’ll provide you with some guidance in illusory arts. How about that?"

Guidance in illusory arts?

Receiving guidance from a Grand Emperor Master of Illusions was something Ning Fan naturally wouldn’t refuse. Suddenly, he no longer thought of the soft body in his arms as a hot potato. Furthermore, with the Emperor Butcher in his embrace, he didn’t fear her capriciousness. With such close physical contact, employing a bewitching technique against the Emperor Butcher became an easy feat. Even though the opponent’s strength was formidable, with a bewitching technique in hand, he was not entirely without the power to fight back, thus was equipped to handle the worst case scenario. On deeper thought, perhaps the Emperor Butcher allowing herself to be carried was her way of reassuring him she harbored no ill will. With this realization, his eyes steadied as he lifted the Emperor Butcher amidst the varied expressions of onlookers.

The Emperor Butcher then looked at Ning Fan with great implications, her lotus arms wrapped around his neck, and then rested her small face against his chest. To outsiders, she seemed incredibly shy and coquettish, though in truth, no such embarrassment was there; she quickly adapted to it all.

The Sea Witch Sect fell silent: this Ning-named foreign cultivator was so audacious, openly embracing a teammate’s wife. Was he not afraid of teammates turning on him? Such shameless behavior paid no regard to the feelings of the Huanhai Clan at all.

The Huanhai Clan similarly fell silent as everyone’s gazes landed on the scarred man, filled with sympathy, anger, mockery, and schadenfreude, varying with their relationship with him.

The scarred man felt as if his head was already covered with lush green lettuce, yet he seemed mentally prepared, laughing spontaneously and not minding in the slightest.

"It seems I’ve unfairly gained the infamy of seizing another’s wife..."

Ning Fan felt somewhat speechless. He knew the Emperor Butcher was not actually the Dao partner of the scarred man, so holding her was not some great sin. However, this was something he couldn’t explain to others.

Deciding explanations were unnecessary, he moved forward with an unchanged expression, carrying the beauty in his arms. Meanwhile, the Emperor Butcher simply leaned against him, discreetly extending her spirit sense to delve deeply into the Fire Soul Tower’s mysteries...

As the cuckolded man remained silent, Wu Yan naturally wouldn’t accuse Ning Fan of anything, still with a smiling demeanor, she said to him.

"I reckon, this place is exceedingly perilous. Perhaps we should leave soon and head to another location; what do you think, Brother Ning?"

"Perilous, eh... How about this, let’s part ways and light the map. I wish to study the illusory formations of the Illusory Bamboo Forest a bit more here. You all go ahead, what do you say?"

"Very well. In that case, we’ll part ways with you here, Brother Ning. We still hope you won’t linger here too long and will set off soon to illuminate more maps, as that’s the priority."

Seeing Ning Fan genuinely intent on lingering a bit here, Wu Yan didn’t push further. Acting separately was fine too. If the Sha Bailou came killing, she could be far away and avoid entanglement. It sufficed to share Ning Fan’s exam results.

"In this case, my Huanhai Clan will accompany Lord Wu Yan in departing." The scarred man decided to lead the Huanhai Clan along with Wu Yan. As for his little wife... well, she would just be left to Ning Fan. Ah well, time to find another.

With paths diverging, only Ning Fan and the Emperor Butcher remained here.

Ning Fan took a long look at the Illusory Bamboo Forest before suddenly carrying the Emperor Butcher deeper into the bamboo, feeling a certain aura within drawing his Fu Li blood forward...