Chapter 487: Ning Zhuo Seizes Fortune!
Ning Jiufan had actually already returned near Mount Huoshi.
But on Lin Bufan’s suggestion, he hadn’t returned to the family. Instead, he hid nearby to delay Meng Kui’s deployment.
Now, Meng Kui had activated the Message Bird.
Ning Jiufan quickly received the message.
“Meng Kui is getting restless. He’s finally urging me to rendezvous and strike at the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence.” Ning Jiufan exhaled a long breath of turbid air and slowly rose to his feet.
He gazed solemnly toward Mount Huoshi, fully aware that this hunt for the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence would be an immense challenge!
The true difficulty of this challenge wasn’t actually the Fire Essence itself, nor was it the burden of “hunting it down while also protecting the citizens of Huoshi Immortal City”—it was Meng Kui.
The struggle between the Meng and Zhu Families over Huoshi Immortal City had already entered a new stage, with the Lava Immortal Palace officially changing hands.
The Zhu Family, thanks to Zhu Xuanji’s efforts, had successfully drawn in the Zhou and Ning Families, using these two great cultivation families as anchoring nails to resist Meng Family’s encroachment.
Meng Kui couldn’t normally make a move against these two families, but now, leveraging the Fire Essence as pretext, action was inevitable.
Thick smoke rolled from the mouth of Mount Huoshi, and scorching lava spattered from time to time.
Inside Mount Huoshi, in the Lava Immortal Palace—
Meng Kui sat cross-legged atop the palace throne. His gaze was like a blazing torch, penetrating the void, piercing layers of mountain rock and magma to observe the battlefield in the heart of the volcano.
The battlefield had already been properly arranged.
The two Golden Core Ancestors of the Zhou Family were in position.
Meng Kui transmitted his spiritual sense, his tone icy: “Ning Jiufan has long delayed without arriving. His slackness is plain for all to see. After this battle, I will settle accounts with him.”
“But the moment will not wait. Begin.”
The two Golden Core cultivators of the Zhou Family responded with solemn expressions, accepting the order.
Though they had aligned themselves with the Zhu Family, the fate of Huoshi Immortal City was at stake. As Golden Core cultivators, and people of the city, they had to step forward and contribute their strength.
Since the Zhou Family occupied many resources and privileges in Huoshi Immortal City, it was only natural that they bore responsibility in such a matter.
This was the rule of the Righteous Path.
“Rise.” Meng Kui spoke softly, officially activating the grand formation.
This formation had been pieced together painstakingly over time by him and the Zhou Family’s two Golden Core Ancestors. Such cautious preparation was to prevent alarming the Fire Essence in advance and letting it escape deep underground.
The benefit of this approach immediately became clear.
The Fire Essence drifted leisurely within the lava, completely unguarded, when it was suddenly trapped by the grand formation.
It instantly realized it had been ambushed. Blazing flames erupted around its body, and searing fury flashed in its eyes.
The formation activated, unleashing chains of lightning that locked onto the Fire Essence with precision and speed.
The Fire Essence was momentarily halted, its body flickering with continual arcs of electricity.
It let out a furious roar and struggled desperately, but the formation quickly increased its output. The electric glow expanded, growing blindingly intense, continuing to pin the Fire Essence in place.
Then, the Zhou Family’s two Golden Core cultivators activated part of the formation’s power, triggering further changes.
Countless talismans, like a sky full of fireflies, appeared and expanded, covering the surface of the Fire Essence’s body.
As more and more talismans attached themselves, the Fire Essence’s roars, surrounding flames, and even its body size began to diminish rapidly.
Divine Ability—Heaven and Earth Within the Sleeve.
Seeing the opportunity, Meng Kui slowly extended his arm. His wide sleeve rapidly expanded into a massive black vortex, unleashing a violent suction force.
The dark sleeve sucked in the Fire Essence.
The sleeve quickly contracted, but midway through, a streak of fire suddenly burst forth. Then, four or five more fire lines tore through the sleeve and shot out.
These fire streaks gathered in midair, re-forming the blurred humanoid figure of the Fire Essence.
With a furious roar, it ignited a monstrous blaze within the formation. At the same time, torrents of lava surged upward, attempting to consume everything.
The grand formation was heavily impacted. Many formation nodes began collapsing one after another.
Seeing the situation turn dire, the two Zhou Family Golden Core cultivators hastily performed countless hand seals to stabilize the formation temporarily.
The Fire Essence stirred up waves of lava and searing flames, growing more aggressive by the moment.
The two Golden Core elders gradually found it harder to maintain control; their auras became increasingly chaotic.
Suddenly, the Fire Essence vanished.
“Where did it go?”
“Careful, it’s slipping through the gaps in the formation—it’s heading straight for you!”
The Zhou Family cultivators exchanged urgent messages.
The Fire Essence, moving at terrifying speed, transformed into a fiery streak and entangled Zhou Nongying.
Zhou Nongying had received the warning just in time and barely managed to raise his defenses. A little slower, and he’d have been gravely injured—or worse!
But very quickly, his expression changed.
Because he discovered that the Fire Essence hadn’t been fully blocked—countless fine fire threads were rapidly penetrating his defenses, trying to drill into his body!
“Zhou Nongying, hold on!” the other Golden Core elder from the Zhou Family shouted with all his might, his voice tinged with panic.
He wanted to help but was afraid of endangering Zhou Nongying’s life. For a moment, he was caught in a dilemma.
“Mind if I give it a try?” At this critical moment, Ning Jiufan’s voice suddenly rang out.
The two Zhou Family elders were overjoyed. They both knew that Ning Jiufan possessed a treasure particularly suited to resolving the current crisis.
Meng Kui’s expression remained cold, but he didn’t immediately open the formation. His gaze instead locked onto Lin Bufan.
Ning Jiufan promptly offered an explanation.
Though he had wanted Lin Bufan to remain hidden, the risk was too great.
Without Ning Jiufan’s introduction—which served as a form of endorsement—Meng Kui could have easily barred Lin Bufan from the formation, or even attacked him.
After all, by convention, a Nascent Soul cultivator like Lin Bufan entering another Nascent Soul’s territory should first send a Message Bird.
Lin Bufan’s sudden appearance was a violation of etiquette—practically a provocation!
After Ning Jiufan’s introduction, Meng Kui turned to Lin Bufan and said, “Daoist Lin is truly warmhearted, a rare trait indeed. But you should know—good intentions often lead to disaster.”
Lin Bufan smiled faintly and countered, “Just now I watched Daoist Meng’s divine ability allow the Fire Essence to escape. Though I was merely passing by, as a man of the Righteous Path with a benevolent heart, I couldn’t bear to see the people of Lava Immortal City suffer.”
Meng Kui: “……”
As the sect master of the Myriad Medicines Sect, Lin Bufan managed his domain with great success and charisma. His skill with words and ripostes was naturally second to none.
In the end, Meng Kui gave a slight smile and accepted Lin Bufan’s assistance with formal thanks.
He opened the formation and let Ning Jiufan and Lin Bufan enter.
Seeing the arrival of two powerful reinforcements, the Zhou Family elders were naturally overjoyed.
“Daoist Ning, you’ve finally arrived!”
Ning Jiufan replied, “I was delayed in seeking reinforcements. I hope you two fellow Daoists won’t mind.”
“Not at all, not at all!”
“Less talk, help me out first!” Zhou Nongying couldn’t hold out any longer. Watching the fire threads continually seep in, he grew truly desperate.
“I’ll handle it.” Ning Jiufan laughed heartily, took out the Ice Heart Jade Flask, opened the lid, and aimed it at Zhou Nongying.
In the next instant, a stream of frigid air poured from the flask, enveloping Zhou Nongying completely before solidifying into a block of mysterious ice.
Zhou Nongying was frozen within the ice block, his injuries rapidly recovering.
At the same time, the bone-chilling cold of the ice block continued to damage the Fire Essence.
The Fire Essence could not endure it and was forced to reform into a humanoid shape, melt through the ice, and escape once again.
Zhou Nongying was thus saved.
The Fire Essence, however, redirected its hatred toward Ning Jiufan.
It moved at lightning speed, turning into a streak of flame that lunged straight at Ning Jiufan.
Ning Jiufan stumbled back in panic, shouting, “Granny Yuan, save me!”
In the next moment, an aged Fire Fusion Demon Ape suddenly appeared. It reached out with deceptive slowness, and somehow managed to catch the fire streak with its bare hand.
The Fire Essence immediately shifted shape, clinging to Granny Yuan’s body to burn her.
But this time, its old trick was less effective.
First, Granny Yuan was a Nascent Soul–level being. Second, she was a Fire Fusion Demon Ape—a beast species that lived within volcanoes and was known for soaking in lava baths.
Seeing Granny Yuan and the Fire Essence entangled, Lin Bufan struck at once, casting a spell that conjured thick vines to bind both Granny Yuan and the Fire Essence.
“We’ll help you too!” The Zhou Family’s Golden Core cultivators were delighted and immediately activated the grand formation to assist Lin Bufan.
Watching this unfold, Meng Kui slowly closed his eyes and began employing a profound technique…
He made his move—and outside Mount Huoshi, Shen Lingshu immediately sensed it.
Shen Lingshu sharply raised his head and looked toward the volcano’s mouth: “Meng Kui has acted.”
Zhu Xuanji also became alert. “As expected. Meng Kui couldn’t strike at Ning Jiufan directly, so he’s likely using this method to secretly harm Ning Jiufan’s fortune energy.”
“Ning Jiufan is in the midst of a fierce battle. If his fate weakens, there will be obvious signs.”
“It’s just… what kind of spell is he using?”
Spell—Frostbinding Life-Sealing Art!
In the depths of Meng Kui’s eyes, Ning Jiufan’s figure surfaced. Under the influence of the spell, Ning Jiufan’s fate was no longer lively, as if covered in a layer of frost, on the verge of freezing to death.
Ning Jiufan’s fortune waned, and the reaction quickly manifested on the battlefield—he fell into great peril.
Liangzhu Kingdom, near Canglin Immortal City.
The Demon Cultivator Elder took a deep breath, the blood-red spirit pearl at his brow bulging wide as he closely watched Ning Zhuo’s fortune.
Ning Zhuo’s fortune was in decline.
“It’s dropping—hahaha!”
“Seems Ning Zhuo previously used some kind of forbidden technique to temporarily boost his fate.”
“The time for the decisive strike has come. Three-Line Fortune-Breaking Curse!”
The Demon Cultivator Elder roared, mustering all his failing strength and fiercely striking at Ning Zhuo’s fate.
Boom!
In the unseen void, it was as if the Demon Cultivator Elder heard a thunderous boom.
The Three-Line Fortune-Breaking Curse successfully struck the fate in Ning Zhuo’s left arm. In an instant, most of the fortune was indeed dispersed—but then, a wave of frost slammed into it, re-freezing and consolidating the fate.
Demon Cultivator Elder: ?!
Southern Dou Kingdom, Lava Immortal City.
Meng Kui: “Hm?!”
His expression shifted at once.
In the depths of his gaze, the fate of Ning Jiufan—just moments from freezing—suddenly jolted violently, shattering the frost entirely.
“What is this technique?”
Meng Kui couldn’t quite tell, but he knew the defensive power was rare—at least Nascent Soul level.
“So Ning Jiufan possesses a Nascent Soul–level fate-protecting treasure?”
Unwilling to fail, Meng Kui cast the Frostbinding Life-Sealing Art again.
The Demon Cultivator Elder, equally unwilling to lose, continued to activate the Three-Line Fortune-Breaking Curse.
Both of them: “Hm?!”
It still had some effect.
Ning Jiufan’s fortune was indeed partially frozen and suppressed. Meanwhile, Ning Zhuo’s fortune was likewise partially scattered.
Still refusing to concede, Meng Kui cast Frostbinding Life-Sealing Art once again.
The Demon Cultivator Elder, undeterred, continued invoking the Three-Line Fortune-Breaking Curse.
Both of them: “Eh-hey?!”
The results were indeed even greater.
Ning Jiufan’s fortune continued to plummet. Ning Zhuo’s fate was shaken even more.
Meng Kui was gasping for air.
The Demon Cultivator Elder’s seven orifices began to bleed.
Frostbinding Life-Sealing Art!
Three-Line Fortune-Breaking Curse!
Meng Kui panted like an ox, his face pale as paper.
The Demon Cultivator Elder’s pores across his body were oozing blood.
Frostbinding Life-Sealing Art!!
Three-Line Fortune-Breaking Curse!!
Meng Kui’s gaze started to blur.
The Demon Cultivator Elder’s ears and nose gushed blood uncontrollably.
Frostbinding Life-Sealing Art!!!
Three-Line Fortune-Breaking Curse!!!
Meng Kui felt dizzy, his vision darkening in waves.
The Demon Cultivator Elder was already a man of blood, face like golden paper, swaying unsteadily.
“This Ning Jiufan (Ning Zhuo) is stronger than expected—he’s got something up his sleeve!” In different corners of the world, the two Nascent Soul cultivators suddenly shared the same thought, hearts aligned across distance.
Back in the battlefield, Shen Lingshu also showed a face full of shock and doubt. “I didn’t expect Ning Jiufan’s fate foundation to be this deep. Meng Kui has cast fate-cursing arts over and over again, and Ning Jiufan still withstood them. Remarkable.”
Zhu Xuanji couldn’t see it, but upon hearing Shen Lingshu’s astonishment, he echoed, “The Ning Family truly has deep roots. No wonder they’re considered a mighty force of the Northern Lands.”
He had always held a good opinion of the Ning Family.
Meng Kui was already rolling his eyes in frustration.
He decisively stopped using that spell and began to feel a creeping unease and doubt: “Strange… why was I so fixated just now on using only the Frostbinding Life-Sealing Art?”
“Perhaps I should try a different spell. It might produce better results!”
Near Canglin Immortal City.
The Demon Cultivator Elder was now half-kneeling, a massive pool of blood already spreading beneath him.
He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to persist.
“No!”
“I can’t collapse—if I do, under the power of the Great Curse, Little Six’s fortune will be seized by that bastard Ning Zhuo!”
“Could it be that the grand cause of rebuilding the Demon Kingdom will fall on my hands?!”
“Absolutely not…”
“I must persist… I have one final strike.”
“Th-Three-Line… Fortune-Break… Curse…”
This time, with no counter-assault from Meng Kui’s side, the Demon Cultivator Elder successfully scattered Ning Zhuo’s fortune.
“Success!”
For an instant, wild joy surged in the Demon Cultivator Elder’s heart.
“I’ve won! So he too was at the end of his rope. All my perseverance was worth it. It was all…”
In the next moment, a magnificent light suddenly burst forth.
Within the brilliance, Ning Zhuo’s scattered fate rapidly reassembled and solidified.
The Buddha Heart Demon Seal was finally triggered—suppressing fate!
The Demon Cultivator Elder widened his eyes and shouted, “No—!”
He forcibly endured the pain and despair, preparing to squeeze out the last of his strength.
Southern Dou Kingdom, Mount Huoshi.
“The moment has come!” Shen Lingshu pulled out a cloth bag and opened it, returning a great surge of fate to Ning Jiufan.
In an instant, Ning Jiufan’s fortune soared!
Meng Kui’s newly cast spell slammed into this like a skull smashing into an iron anvil—he hissed in pain and inhaled sharply.
Ning Jiufan and Ning Zhuo were connected by the Divine Ability—Life Hanging by a Thread.
Ning Zhuo’s fortune likewise surged upward.
That surge instantly claimed the Demon Cultivator Elder’s life!
Bang.
He was obliterated, turning into a cloud of smoke that quickly dissipated on the spot.
Without his support, Ning Zhuo swelled with power. The fate energy of his left arm, now once again formidable, clutched the earth-yellow heart with brutal force.
Zhi zhi zhi—
The monkey face on the heart screamed continuously, its cries shrill, terrified, frenzied, and filled with rage.
Bang.
With a light sound, the left arm crushed the monkey-faced earth-yellow heart, completely absorbing it!