Chapter 1300: Chapter 1300: Nine Goddesses, Fish Beginning Moon End
The Northern Barbarians Kingdom was once split in half by a single sword, and the crack turned into a bottomless Broken World, where the blood-red Sword Qi soared to the sky, preventing the Spiritual Energy of the earth veins from naturally closing.
Ning Fan took ten years to mend the Spiritual Energy of the earth veins of the Northern Barbarians Kingdom, piecing the shattered Northern Barbarians Kingdom back togetherâthis was all accomplished amidst battles.
This task held no significance for the Immeasurable Kingdom, but if it could slightly mend the hurt in Honglingâs heart, Ning Fan was willing to go the extra mile.
However, the reconnected earth veins still had many places that couldnât be perfectly seamless, so Ning Fan filled those gaps with the Rain Dao Principle, and after that...
The once sword-scarred chasm had long turned into a slender yet lengthy river, often accompanied by rain.
Survivors named this river the Fan Ancestral River or Fan Water, and they named the newly built Barbarian City as Fan City to express gratitude for the Fan Family Patriarchâs contributions to the Northern Barbarians Kingdom.
A thousand years of time could let many walk out of pain, and it allowed the newborns to remain unaware of the Immeasurable Catastrophe.
Fan Water runs through the city, occasionally carrying light boats across the river, from which conversations and laughter float just as they did thousands of years ago, before the arrival of the Immeasurable.
On both banks are bustling markets, where the universal currency is no longer the once-dominant Xuejing Stone aloneâthe countryâs mines can hardly produce any Xuejing Stones since the thawing of the Northern Barbarians Kingdomâs snow and ice. Hence, the currency system underwent a series of optimizationsâbesides Xuejing Stones, immortal jade, Dao Crystals, and Heavenly Dao Gold and Silver are all usable... this is the decree of Regent Barbarian God [Nifan].
This is what the surviving Barbarians call Ning Fan, though it is unclear who first used this name, it quickly spread and was accepted by the survivors.
"Ni" implies honor, and "Fan" is in honor of the Fan Barbarian Patriarch.
If anyone else used the name "Ni," no one would consider it seriously.
But Ning Fan is different. In peopleâs hearts, Ning Fan is worthy of respect like the Reverse Saint, hence the honorable title. In the hearts of many, only this title matches all that Ning Fan has sacrificed over a millennium.
Moving on from pain does not mean forgetting gratitude! When all others ignored the Northern Barbarians Kingdomâs destruction, only Ning Fan stood up. How could such a great favor not deserve the name "Ni?"
Only because Ning Fan forbade mentioning the Immeasurable Catastrophe, people cooperated with Ning Fanâs act, living a peaceful daily life, yet not without gratitude.
Many also knew the Regent Barbarian Godâs real name was "Lu Bei," but out of respect for the venerable, no one dared utter Lu Beiâs name. That would be disrespectful, utterly disrespectful!
Only those close could call him such, while ordinary people dared not, nor wished to.
Ning Fan walked through the market holding Xiao Manâs hand, drawing attention no matter where they went.
However, as Ning Fan had stipulated prior, even when the Barbarians saw Ning Fan, they dared not kneel and salute, only suppressing their inner excitement and worship, interacting with Ning Fan as an ordinary person.
"Does Lord Nifan want to buy wine? Recently opened century-old brew."
"Iâll take a bottle."
"Alright! Just ten pieces of immortal jade affordable."
"So cheap?"
"Itâs not good wine, hence cheap."
Indeed, itâs not good wine.
The shopkeeper apparently learned that Lord Nifan loved drinking common wine, thus spent a century deliberately brewing a century-old ordinary wine.
The cost of ingredients wasnât high, not even worth one piece of immortal jade, but the manpower must have cost several times more than ten pieces of immortal jade.
"Thank you very much."
"Oh, no, not at all! How can a small person like me be worthy of the Lordâs thanks, what the Lord has done, that is truly..."
The shopkeeper, in his excitement, almost let slip, quickly stopping himself, and he couldnât stop grinning while pouring wine for Ning Fan: touch Lord Nifanâs wine gourd, and I can brag about it for a lifetime; and if the Lord praises my wine, I would die a hundred times without regret!
In the shopkeeperâs hopeful gaze, Ning Fan opened the gourd and took a sip.
It wasnât his favorite taste, but he appreciated the sentiment behind it.
"The flavorâs not bad."
"Thank you, thank you, Lord, for your praise... Lord must take care of your health, and ensure safety..." The shopkeeper was so moved he began to cry with joy.
Even Xiao Man at his side looked stunned.
Is that necessary, brother?
How much do you admire Zhou Xiaoming? A casual compliment can make you cry tears of joy...
Even to the point of incoherently blessing someone to stay safe...
Looking at the wine flag written with "Cao Kang Liquor Store" outside, Bei Xiaoman had a thoughtful look, perhaps this shopkeeper, Cao Kang, wasnât very smart.
Once, Ning Fan could only use Heavenly Dao Gold to trade in the Saint Heir trials because they spanned vast time and space.
But now, Ning Fan can use Dao Crystals and immortal jade. What does this mean, Ning Fan must know: this cycle of reincarnation here is not just Saint Heir trials, but has more entanglement with Real Realms reincarnations...
If this entanglement deepens, eventually:
To die in battle here will truly be death.
Saving this cycle of reincarnation, however, may also have real meaning.
...
"Lord Nifan, would you like to buy flowers? New Bell Orchid cultivation."
"Oh? Itâs actually an Immortal-grade species, how much is this flower..."
"100, no, 90 immortal jade. The whole store is offering a 10% discount today, and youâve come just in time, my Lord."
"Then Iâll brazenly take advantage of this 10 immortal jade discount."
"Oh, youâre terrible, my Lord; forget the mere 10 immortal jade discount, even the benefit of my humble self, you may always take, my Lord..."
Seeing the flower-selling girl almost leaning on Ning Fan, Xiao Man just felt a burst of lemony jealousy in her heart, immediately stepping between them, exclaiming "What demon are you, cease your wildness and retreat swiftly."
Then she pulled Ning Fan away, giving no chance for the other to seduce Ning Fan.
Damn it!
Itâs clearly in my dream, yet Stinky Zhou Ming dares flirt with a wild woman! He simply does not regard the master of this dream at all!
"When did I flirt with someone else? Clearly others are the ones who flirted with me..." Ning Fan felt he was at a loss for words.
"You, how can you know what Iâm thinking! This is my dream!" Mistress Xiao Man was startled, then thought it reasonable.
After all, in dreams, encountering bizarre things is hardly surprising.
"Oh my! The money you gave me is too much, why did you give me 200 immortal jade again..." Again? Why did I say again?
Canât figure it out.
Itâs just unexpected that the flower Lord Nifan loves most is not Bell Orchid, but plum blossom... Itâs rare in the Real Realms for male masters to wear flowers, but this is the first time this lady has seen Lord Nifan wear a flower on his head.
He must love plum blossoms to the core, even if theyâre crushed, he wears them like treasures. Truly a flower lover...
...
"Lord Nifan, just freshly baked, want some sugar cake... Hey! Lord Nifan?"
"No, no! Your sugar cake is uncooked! Clearly raw cake dough!" Mistress Xiao Man seeing itâs a lady boss selling sugar cakes, pulled Ning Fan to continue running forward, giving him no chance to flirt with wild women, even if the lady looked like an old crone, Mistress Xiao Man still felt insecure.
"Lord Nifan, buy a hairpin to give to your wife!" A male vendor with an orchid-finger gesture shouted.
"No, no!" Mistress Xiao Man continued pulling Ning Fan to escape.
Orchid finger! That surely is orchid finger! This person clearly is a "boyish girl," even men want to compete with me for Stinky Zhou Ming, the world is terrifying!
Male vendor with injured fingers unable to bend thus raised:...
"Lord Nifan, hereâs the latest style of kite..."
"Lord Nifan!"
"Lord Nifan?"
...
Finally reaching a place away from the crowds, Mistress Xiao Man felt weak, gasping for breath, found a pavilion to chill and rest.
Ning Fan looked deeply, watching Mistress Xiao Manâs pale face, not knowing what he was thinking.
"So frightening! The whole world is competing with me for Little Fan Fan!"
"I must love Stinky Zhou Ming to my core to have such bizarre nightmares."
"Eh, whereâs my shoe, why did it go missing..."
Mistress Xiao Man belatedly realized one of her shoes had mysteriously disappeared.
Thinking about being so concerned for Ning Fan that she didnât even notice losing a shoe, her face suddenly flushed.
Lost!
I love Ning Little Mingming so deeply!
Even dreaming I miss him so much!
Turning to look, she saw Ning Fan holding a red shoe embroidered with nine phoenix patterns, wasnât it her shoe.
She didnât notice losing the shoe, but Little Fan Fan did, picking it up earlier...
After all, Little Fan Fan loves me more! Won!
"Didnât you say you wanted a Red Kite last time? I just saw one on sale, why did you pull me away..."
Ning Fan squatted down, helped Mistress Xiao Man put on the shoe, much like he did many years ago.
"When did I say I wanted a Red Kite? Uncle Lu Bei, are you really getting old, your memory isnât good..." Mistress Xiao Man speechless, this lady really doesnât remember saying such things? Dreamy Little Fan Fan looks silly, memory isnât good, fine, just make do, low-tier Little Fan Fan is also Little Fan Fan.
"I must have remembered wrong..." Ning Fanâs gaze grew deeper, but he didnât continue the topic.
"No worries! Uncle Lu Bei! Even if you become the worldâs worst man with memory, Mistress Xiao Man wonât dislike you! Even if you forget the world, even if the world forgets you, as long as you donât forget Mistress Xiao Man, Mistress Xiao Man will always like you!"
"No way, forget whom, canât possibly forget Mistress Xiao Man."
"Although I indeed never said those words, if Uncle Lu Bei gives me a Red Kite, Mistress Xiao Man would certainly super-duper love it!"
"Alright, Iâll go buy back the kite I just saw. Wait here for me, wonât take long."
"No need! Better not buy it! That kite vendor is too alluring, uncle couldnât resist!"
Mistress Xiao Man clutched Ning Fanâs sleeve tightly; she didnât have the habit of dreaming green hat dreams!
Reality was already difficult, couldnât stop Little Fan Fan from opening a harem; if dreams also a husband with a hundred wives, wouldnât it be self-torment!
Canât have that!
"Where do you want to go now for fun? Perhaps, go find your Sister Bai Ling for chess?" Ning Fan asked.
"Sure!" Clearly a vinegar spirit, but if shared with Bai Ling, for some reason, Bei Xiao Man didnât feel jealous, in fact, she was very willing to get close to Bai Ling.
"Then letâs..."
Ning Fan hadnât finished speaking when suddenly a streak of light arrived, revealing the shadow of Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor.
When Immeasurable Catastrophe arrived, this emperor had good luck, escaped into Thousand Trees Formation, didnât fall, yet suffered severe injury, barely escaped with his spirit.
But with Ning Fanâs help, this emperor had remolded his physical body, recovered from injuries, and willingly came to be Ning Fanâs subordinate Divine General, assisting Ning Fan in guarding Northern Barbarians Kingdom together.
At this moment coming, was to report something to Regent Barbarian God.
But seeing Ning Fan not alone, also Northern Barbarian God Mistress Xiao Man present, Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor dared not speak directly, only transmitted the report.
"Strange, Iâm not an outsider, whatâs the secret canât tell me... Han... evil... yelling hungry... Han E! Itâs her! Remember in the city thereâs a singing girl, called this name..."
"So this matter concerns a woman? Thatâs why canât tell me? Damn it! Little Fan Fan in my dream, secretly keeping women behind my back? Couldnât do it openly!" Although Mistress Xiao Man didnât know specifics, she still read some Ning Fanâs lip content, eyebrow raised lightly, calculating.
Seeing Bei Xiao Man "dreaming" yet keeping enough rationality to read lip language, Ning Fan slightly surprised, behaved even more cautiously, now not even moving his mouth, directly used spirit sense transmitting words.
After a few words sent Southern Pavilion Celestial Emperor away.
Ning Fan said to Mistress Xiao Man, "Iâll take you to the academy first, but I canât stay with you there as I have some urgent matters to handle."
Urgent matters!
He calls looking for women urgent matters!
I know youâre in a hurry, but I can, too. Although my body is a bit small, but... but...
Youâve changed, Little Fan Fan, you donât love me anymore!
Ning Fan: "..."
"If youâre not in a rush to go to the academy, why donât we go take care of my urgent matters together?" Ning Fan said helplessly.
If possible, he would rather not take Bei Xiao Man to see the woman named "Han E."
Among the survivors of the Northern Barbarians Kingdom, sheâs the only one whose fate Ning Fan couldnât discern.
Even with the insight of the Third Realm of Tianren, he couldnât see through her fate, which is quite tricky...
"Huh?" Bei Xiao Man was greatly shocked.
I was just thinking...
My body at eight years old, can you really accept that?
Is desperation so extreme?
Terrifying! Little Fan Fan in my dreams is so terrifying! But who taught this Fan Fan to be my face lover? Even if itâs sketchy, he must be indescribable!
"Uncle, please wait a bit! Let little Xiao Man make some preparations..." Got to find some indescribable tools to add description, otherwise little me absolutely cannot be described.
"...Youâre overthinking it; itâs just to listen to some music, and by the way, discuss something with the singer. Theyâve been observing me for a millennium, yet only now do they come to confront me. The fortune is yet unknown, the cause-and-effect not directly visible. But if my guess is correct, this person is likely a friend, not an enemy; at least for you, she isnât an enemy..." Ning Fan said.
Little Man was in disarray!
Little Man was heartbroken!
It hasnât been that long since we last met, and Little Fan Fan has turned into a top-level Riddle Man! Is this a distortion of character or a collapse of morality!
Please speak human!
"Sorry, after a thousand years of maintaining a persona, itâs hard to switch back quickly. Weâre going to meet a woman named Han E; she has words to say to me, just words, nothing more."
"Oh, oh, Uncle says so, Little Man understands now..." Got it! With me around, no other deeds can be done, right? Without me, you do it eighteen times, right?
Must keep a tight watch on Little Fan Fan, or even the old lady by the roadside might become my lifelong enemy!
From this moment, inseparable!
...
North of Fan City, thereâs a Barbarian God Temple established by survivors that, besides enshrining the incense of Northern Barbariansâ gods throughout history, also enshrines Ning Fanâs incense.
Nominally, Ning Fan is just the Regent Barbarian God of the Northern Barbarians Kingdom, but in the hearts of the people, heâs already the true Forty-third generation Northern Barbarian God.
Unfortunately, without the appointment of former gods, Ning Fan canât truly become the Northern Barbarian God, but it doesnât affect Ning Fanâs status.
Besides the market in the city, itâs the most bustling place here, with numerous stalls set up, day and night filled with visitors, like a temple fair.
Unless they canât break away, Northern Barbarian Masters come to the Barbarian God Temple daily to worship, chant sutras, and pray.
Apparently, itâs to worship Ning Fan.
Indeed, thereâs another layer of meaning; everyone is gathering Incense Flame power for Ning Fan.
A thousand years of incense might not be enough to withstand the Immeasurable Catastrophe, but everyone is secretly working hard to defeat it... but Ning Fan doesnât wish those things to surface.
At least, not to let Mistress Xiao Man know...
When Ning Fan appears at the temple fair, he immediately draws a lot of attention, but after Ning Fan communicates, the crowd didnât show too much enthusiasm.
The Barbarian God has matters, please do not disturb!
From afar, the singing voice comes, ethereally beautiful, with a lingering effect, but the specific lyrics are hard to discern, as if separated by endless moonlight, difficult to traverse.
Bei Xiao Man traces the sound, only to find not far from the Barbarian God Temple, there stands a plum grove, faintly revealing a pavilion.
Indeed, a place to listen to music!
Is this woman named Han E singing here? I, Sister Bai Ling, must see what kind of enchanting beauty this woman really is, possibly so unforgettable to Stinky Zhou Ming!
"Follow me; this plum grove has a formation, donât get lost..."
"Oh, oh!"
Bei Xiao Man was sulking, suddenly pulled by Ning Fan on her little hand, her full grievances turned sweet, and she followed Ning Fan gleefully into the plum grove.
Yet upon stepping into the grove, the world instantly transformed. The plum grove vanished, leaving only a world of Nine Mountains and Eight Seas, with countless ancient kingdoms born and perished!
"What formation is this, huh? Lu Bei Uncle? Where did you go?"
"Lu Bei Uncle?"
"Zhou Mingming?"
"Ning Fan Fan?"
A formidable formation suddenly appeared, making Ning Fan disappear, but Bei Xiao Man didnât feel panic at all.
Firstly, unaware of the formationâs exact might; secondly... dreaming, whatâs there to fear!
Hmph!
Though unclear about the formationâs level, as mistress of the dream realm, I can do anything!
This is what my second sister told me, cannot be wrong!
And my second sister also handed me a spell, specifically to deal with nightmares of the world!
Although my second sister loves snatching my toys and wants to steal my man... sheâs never lied to me!
What was the spell again...
Bei Xiao Man recalled the usual dramatic demeanor of her second sister, Bei Qinghan, and made an effort to give herself a similarly dramatic air.
Then, she covered one eye and mimicked her sisterâs laugh, "Kukukuku."
"Kukukuku, I am the black moonlight emissary who has reincarnated 129,600 lifetimes, how can such a small formation trap me!"
"Explode, reality! Shatter, spirit! Bloom, true eye of the black moon!"
Strangely enough, as soon as the spell was uttered, a Black Moon Mark truly appeared over the eye that Bei Xiao Man had covered. Black moonlight burst out from her eye, continuously striking the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas formationâbut the power of the black moon was too weak to break through the grand formation.
Yet it still made the controller of the formation utter a small "huh," and then sigh.
"I merely wanted to test your beloved using the Mountain and Sea State Diagram, and you are so eager to save him... such a foolish sister..."
Who, whoâs calling me sister? Could it be my second sister?
"Your second sister is also my sister..."
Could you be the eldest sister, Bei Shi!
"Your eldest sister is still my sister... even your mother is my sister... in all these lifetimes of reincarnation, have you not remembered, Xiao Jiu... there are nine Goddesses, fish as the beginning, moon as the end, I am Seven Apricot, and you are Moon End..."
Xiao Jiu, who is being addressed as Xiao Jiu... I donât understand, donât understand, but why does this address make me nostalgic, make me want to cry...
A muffled sound suddenly echoed outâit was Ning Fanâs voice, coming from an unknown direction.
Bei Xiao Man was instantly anxious; whatâs going on, why is Little Fan Fan injured, just by this little formation in front of her?
Although itâs only a dream... she still doesnât want Ning Fan to be hurt in the dream!
"Explode, reality! Shatter, spirit! Bloom, true eye of the black moon!"
More black moonlight shot out from Bei Xiao Manâs eyes.
But because of over-straining her mana, her face turned pale instantly, faced with backlash, she coughed up blood.
"What is this! The dream version of me is too weak! What kind of spell makes me cough blood! How feeble is this!" Bei Xiao Man was indignant, wanting to exert more power in her spell.
However, the controller of the formation couldnât bear it, and said with resignation, "Alright, I yield to you. Iâll remove the formation now, quickly retract your Divine Skills, lest the Immortal Spirit Dharma Sealâs erosion deepens..."
In the next moment, the grand formation map of Nine Mountains and Eight Seas disappeared.
Bei Xiao Man remained in the plum forest, still being held by Ning Fan, as if everything that happened before was merely an illusion.
However, her pale complexion and the fresh blood spattered on the ground proved that things werenât so simple.
Ning Fan sighed, took out a handkerchief magical treasure, and wiped away the blood from the corner of Bei Xiao Manâs mouth.
If anyone else had hurt Bei Xiao Man, he would surely be angry, but the person before him had a special status, and didnât intentionally harm Bei Xiao Man...
Eight years ago, the Northern Barbarian God finally awakened, even though Ning Fan hadnât yet become a Saint and couldnât sacrifice the Mountain and Sea, the Northern Barbarian God awakened early.
According to Nanke the Old Immortalâs words, someone unexpected responded to the Primordial Inverse Moon Formation and consistently used the inverse moon spell to aid them in these millennia, temporarily awakening the Northern Barbarian God.
As for who the helper was, Nanke the Old Immortal didnât say, but based on these millennial experiences, Ning Fan had his suspicions.
Among the surviving Northern Barbarians, there was only one person Ning Fan couldnât fathom; this person was undoubtedly of staggering cultivation... someone like Nanke couldnât possibly be unaware of this personâs existence, yet did not mention them, indicating they werenât an enemy but their identity contained many taboos, hence cannot be mentioned.
Han E!
This person had been dormant in the Northern Barbarians Kingdom for a thousand years but today expressed the intention to discuss something, arranging a meeting. Regarding this womanâs identity, although Ning Fan had many guesses, none had been verified, thus he came today with the intention of confronting her.
"Forgive the directness, senior... are you a Reverse Saint?"
Ning Fan asked the silhouette bathed in moonlight deep in the plum forest.
"Yes, and no, the one standing in front of you isnât, and canât be..." the figure offered an ambiguous answer.
"If thatâs the case, this junior has another question..."
"Inappropriate, youâve already asked me a question, now itâs my turn to ask you. How is your master..."
Ning Fan had many masters, the figure didnât specify which one they were referring to.
But the moment Ning Fan heard the question, he confirmed who the figure was...
Masterâs wife!
The woman before him was most likely his masterâs wife!
She was a terrifying woman who put Ning Fan and Old Monster Han in different generations!
"My master is faring well in the Rain Immortal World, but in the Real Realms, Iâm unsure..." Ning Fan deliberated and responded thus.
"This junior has responded to the seniorâs question, now I wish to ask a second question. Is the senior a friend or foe..." Although he had some conjectures about the womanâs identity, he couldnât determine her stance.
"Based on the Dust Decision, I could be your enemy, based on Xiao Jiu, I could be your friend. My stance depends on your choice, I need to know, among the many Fourth Step paths before you, which one do you plan to take, or perhaps, do you truly intend to fabricate a Nifan path, deceiving the world... you have many karma on you, malicious ones like ancient, Liyan, Yue Kun, Hongjun, Shanhai Slave, benevolent ones like Nikong, Ni Yue Zun, Northern Dipper, Senxiang, Hui Chen, Mie Gu, Chiwei... and Yin Yang..." upon mentioning the last name, the woman paused as if thousands of emotions were lodged in her heart unable to be voiced, ultimately turning into a sigh.
"Yet you should know, itâs not by sowing benevolent karma, that one can reap benevolent fruit; those deceasedâs benevolent karma, might instead attract malicious retribution, eventually dragging you into the grave along with the deceased... sometimes light is cruel, mortals could bear darkness, if they never saw light. Itâs not the deceasedâs fault for not having the ability to save, but they shouldnât give hope to the world and then shatter it with their own hands..."
The woman wished to continue speaking, but was interrupted by Bei Xiao Man.
No other reason.
She spoke at length, yet this young lady didnât understand a single word!
"Beautiful lady sister! Please speak plainly! Thank you!" Bei Xiao Man said thus.
The woman, suspected to be a Reverse Saint, was not angered by such defiance, but instead pondered for a long while, apologetically replying.
"Iâll rephrase it plainly..." She surprisingly accommodated Bei Xiao Manâs unreasonable request!