In the mortal world, outside a ruined temple west of the Wu Dynasty's imperial city, dark clouds veiled the moon as torrential rain poured down.
Inside the ruined temple, Ning Fan gradually awoke from unconsciousness. His vacant eyes stared at the bonfire before him, his face filled with confusion.
How had he ended up here?
Memories slowly flooded back, and Ning Fan seemed to recall something.
He had crippled Zhu Ye and fallen unconscious on the imperial city's streets. In his fading moments, someone seemed to have saved him.
The one who had saved him was a woman, a stranger who nevertheless felt strangely familiar.
Ning Fan struggled to his feet, gazing at the rain outside the temple as his eyes gradually lost focus.
Zhu Ye had been crippled. For the rest of his life, he would be a useless man unable to speak or move, having received the punishment he deserved.
His wish had been fulfilled. There was nothing left in his life to bind him.
Outside the temple, lightning tore through the void, illuminating the dark mortal world.
Ning Fan looked into the rainy night, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
The mortal world was truly beautiful!
Ning Fan stepped into the rain, allowing the downpour to drench him completely, the smile on his face never fading.
After several steps, a dazzling pillar of light shot skyward from Ning Fan's body, bright as lightning and blindingly brilliant.
"He has comprehended it."
Not far away, Qing Ling looked at Ning Fan and spoke softly.
Demonic energy churned across the heavens, ten thousand bolts of thunder raced forth, heavenly fire burned the world—three tribulations descended at once, shaking heaven and earth.
Beneath the rainy night, Ning Fan's aura surged wildly as the three Xiantian tribulations descended one