From "refining" to "immortal," a single word makes an immense difference, like the difference between heaven and earth.
The path to the Mystic Yellow Realm has been cut off for countless years. The term "immortal" has become an unattainable goal, existing only in ancient scriptures for cultivators to yearn and fantasize about.
However, Li Fan now sees a cultivation technique that might be related to "true immortals"!
"A true immortal inheritance?" Just thinking about it, Li Fan felt a surge of excitement. The exhilaration and excitement he experienced now were only comparable to the moment he saw Kou Hong, Dao Xuanzi, and finally confirmed the existence of cultivators in the world.
"No wonder the Mystic Yellow Mantra has always been at the forefront of all my cultivation techniques. Even Qin Tang's 'Cloud Water Illusory Dream Technique' at the Unity Realm is not as good as it! So, it's a true immortal's transmission!"
"The path to immortality is not extinct, the path to immortality is endless!"
Li Fan's heart surged inexplicably, and he couldn't calm down for quite a while, despite his current state of mind and cultivation.
After carefully understanding the so-called "Mystic Yellow Immortal Heart Mantra," Li Fan found that perhaps due to its incomplete nature or his current level of understanding, there wasn't much difference compared to the previous Heart Refining Mantra.
Or perhaps, Li Fan's current proficiency was not enough to discover the differences between the two.
Li Fan carefully recalled the origin of the "Mystic Yellow Immortal Heart Mantra."
Its initial origin was the widely circulated method in the Mystic Yellow Realm used to expel toxins from the body: the "Mystic Yellow Purifying Heart Mantra." Because this mantra only helped eliminate immortal and mortal toxins, and had no other benefits for cultivators after reaching the Unity Realm, few practitioners persisted in cultivating it after entering the Nascent Soul stage.
However, due to his limited aptitude, Li Fan couldn't expel the toxins from his body, so while waiting for the opportunity to enter the Pure Body Spirit Pool, he diligently cultivated the Mystic Yellow Purifying Heart Mantra day and night. Moreover, because he had the True Self panel, which allowed him to clearly observe any changes in himself, he firmly believed that the Mystic Yellow Purifying Heart Mantra was indeed effective and never gave up.
In the Pure Body Spirit Pool, during the extremely painful process of forcibly expelling the immortal toxins from his body, even when he almost lost consciousness and fainted, Li Fan's desire for cultivation did not waver. The confidence granted by the True Self also made Li Fan fearless, unafraid of life and death. In the end, when Li Fan successfully transformed from an ordinary person into a cultivator in the Foundation Building stage, the Mystic Yellow Purifying Heart Mantra had evolved into the Mystic Yellow Heart Refining Mantra.
On the path of cultivation through countless reincarnations, Li Fan gradually found the true method of cultivating the Mystic Yellow Heart Refining Mantra: reverse cultivation of the Dao Heart. Like a large grinding disc, it completely shattered the attachments in his heart, turning them into nourishment for his own divine soul. The degree of its mysticism far exceeded the cultivation techniques circulating in the current Wan Xian Alliance.
Originally, Li Fan thought that this was the limit of the Mystic Yellow Mantra. Unexpectedly, after using the "Chaos" Word Art in this world by chance, facing the backlash of the "Myriad Shadows Overrun," the Heart Refining Mantra spontaneously activated. It finally shed its external disguise and revealed its true form.
"Mystic Yellow Immortal Heart Mantra..." Li Fan repeated this name in his mind.
There was no doubt that this was an unimaginably powerful cultivation technique.
The saying goes, "Worldly matters and falling into the realm of mortals harm the heart of an immortal." No matter how powerful a cultivator is, falling into the turbulent secular world will inevitably damage their Dao Heart.
The "Myriad Shadows Overrun," almost like experiencing a thousand lifetimes of actual reincarnations. Countless scenes and emotions suddenly erupted in Li Fan's mind. If Li Fan hadn't personally experienced a hundred lifetimes of reincarnation and had a mind tougher than ordinary people, he would probably have gone mad on the spot.
Even with the assistance of the Immortal Heart Mantra, if Li Fan had tried to break free from the impact of the "Myriad Shadows Overrun" on his own, it would likely have taken decades.
But with the "Mystic Yellow Immortal Heart Mantra," the result was completely different. Almost in an instant, those sincere emotions and vivid memory scenes were all dissolved and absorbed.
"In an instant, experiencing a thousand lifetimes of reincarnation, yet the immortal heart remains unchanged..."
"Is this the power of an immortal?" Li Fan couldn't help but have a yearning feeling.
"So there's such a celestial technique. It seems I can casually overlook the various illusions present in the Mystic Yellow Realm." A glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
The first thing he thought of was the scene when Senior Zhao pulled him into the Grand Dao Sect.
"With the Mystic Yellow Immortal Heart Mantra, I might be able to maintain my true self in those real illusions. With my consciousness intact and subjectively active, perhaps I can extract more secrets."
"Next life, I should give it a try."
Lost in thought for a while, Li Fan focused his gaze on the "残" (incomplete) character after the Immortal Heart Mantra.
"Now that this celestial technique is not complete, to fill in the gaps, I need to use experiences and memories from countless lifetimes as raw materials. Originally, using the Chaos Word Art and the mental backlash it brings would be the best method."
"But..." Li Fan frowned slightly.
He still had lingering fear of the enormous divine sense that appeared later. His intuition told him that the owner of that divine sense had probably marked the "乱" character. If he used it again, he might be discovered instantly.
"I was able to escape a disaster before, perhaps because the character '乱' hasn't been seen in the world for many years."
"But it may not be possible again..."
"No matter." Thinking of the treasure he possessed, Li Fan smiled faintly.
"Even if I only have one unexpected opportunity in each lifetime, for me, it's equivalent to an endless supply!"
"I'm afraid that neither the one who deliberately hid the Mystic Yellow Immortal Heart Mantra nor the enormous divine sense that cares so much about '乱' would ever think that there's someone like me in the world!"
Looking back on his past experiences, Li Fan was well aware of how difficult it was to turn the Mystic Yellow Purifying Heart Mantra back into the Mystic Yellow Immortal Heart Mantra, especially with powerful beings constantly watching.
"In countless futures, as long as there's a glimmer of hope, I can find it. Turning the impossible into possible."
Li Fan deeply felt the terror of "还真" once again.
At the same time, he felt grateful.
If he didn't have such a treasure, even if he were a genius, he probably wouldn't be able to transcend the Mystic Yellow Realm.
In a state of emotion, Li Fan, in the Heavenly Mirror, began to search for bits of information about the Mystic Yellow Heart Refining Mantra.
"Come to think of it, the Immortal and Mortal toxins are created against the natural order. How could the method to remove them be simple?"
A hint of understanding flashed in Li Fan's mind.
With Li Fan's current level of access, he could see many contents that ordinary cultivators couldn't access. However, regarding the origin of the Mystic Yellow Heart Refining Mantra, there were various opinions, and no definite explanation.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 642: The Disappeared Celestial Lord
In the late stages of the Great Plague Era, under the coercion of cultivators, most ordinary people were relocated to various pocket dimensions and small worlds.
However, the influence of incompatible cultivation methods grew stronger, and cultivators eventually couldn't escape the fate of internal strife. Sects collapsed, and the cultivation civilization entered a long period of darkness.
As they declined, ordinary people, like vigorous weeds, began to emerge once again from various corners of the world.
Regarding the origin of these newly born ordinary people, some said they were stragglers from the initial mass migration. Others claimed they were descendants of cultivators. Some even suggested that ordinary people from small worlds had broken through the Immortal Exclusion Array and returned.
In any case, as cultivators slowly disappeared from the earth, the ordinary people of the Mystic Yellow Realm began to thrive in the gaps.
Accompanying the emergence of ordinary people was the Mystic Yellow Purifying Heart Mantra.
Like a folk song or legend that sprung from nowhere, through word of mouth, almost all human groups became aware of this method that could free ordinary people from the influence of Immortal and Mortal toxins, allowing them to embark on the path of cultivation once again.
Currently, cultivators speculate that this could very well be the work of the mysterious Celestial Lord of the Eastern Extreme from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
Because the Purifying Heart Pool, which could also remove Immortal and Mortal toxins, was created by the Eastern Extreme Celestial Lord. It is highly likely that the Mystic Yellow Purifying Heart Mantra was an attempt by the Eastern Extreme Celestial Lord before creating the Purifying Heart Pool.
However, Li Fan, who now knew the true nature of the Mystic Yellow Purifying Heart Mantra, understood that this possibility was low.
The Eastern Extreme Celestial Lord, the nominal leader of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, only appeared a few times in the early recorded history of the alliance, then completely disappeared.
Rather than being a true immortal, Li Fan believed that he was more likely someone who, like himself, discovered the mystery of the Mystic Yellow Purifying Heart Mantra.
Inspired, he then created the Purifying Heart Pool.
"Perhaps the disappearance of the Eastern Extreme Celestial Lord is also related to the Mystic Yellow Immortal Heart Mantra?" This thought involuntarily surfaced in Li Fan's mind.
When Li Fan tried to look up information about the Eastern Extreme Celestial Lord, it was, as before, nearly blank, without any unnecessary records.
This obviously did not match the identity of the leader of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
"It's truly thought-provoking." Li Fan stopped delving deeper and instead focused on comprehending the Mystic Yellow Immortal Heart Mantra once again.
Half a month later, Li Fan once again gathered everyone at the Bureau of Political Affairs.
Originally thinking that Li Fan had some major news to announce, what they got was news of Li Fan entering seclusion again.
"He just came out of seclusion not long ago. Is he going into seclusion again? Is this how ancient cultivators diligently cultivate?"
"Lord Envoy doesn't lack contribution points; he can stay in the 'Awakening' state permanently. Cultivation is practically a form of enjoyment for him. I could do that too."
"There were rumors before that the Lord has already restored to the Yuanying realm. Could it be that he's breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm now?"
...
As discussions were lively, only He Zhenghao seemed contemplative.
"It seems that Lord Envoy is preparing for the arrival of the World's Soul."
He glanced at Zhou Qing'ang, who seemed unperturbed when the Lord announced this information, indicating that he had known about it for a long time.
Thinking back to the beginning when he was the one Lord Envoy trusted the most. Unfortunately, due to his greed, this kid snatched away the trust. Thinking of this, He Zhenghao felt uncomfortable.
His eyes turned, and an idea flashed in his mind.
So he sent a message to Zhou Qing'ang: "How has your recent cultivation been, Senior Zhou?"
Zhou Qing'ang looked at He Zhenghao, who came to chat with him, a little surprised. After thinking for a moment, he understood the intention behind it.
Coldly smiling inwardly, he replied to He Zhenghao's message, "Hehe, Brother He is joking. You know Lord Envoy doesn't handle mundane affairs. All the big and small matters are left to us. Originally, we had Gao Yuan to help share the burden, but not long ago, he took leave, making us even busier."
"Dealing with political matters consumes most of the time every day. Where is there time to quietly cultivate?"
Chapter 642: The Disappeared Celestial Lord (Continued)
He Zhenghao pretended to wholeheartedly agree, sighed, and began to echo Zhou Qing'ang.
But soon, he changed the subject.
"I have a few words, would Senior like to hear them?" He Zhenghao said, causing Zhou Qing'ang to pause before quickly responding, "Brother He, please go ahead."
He Zhenghao said seriously, "Senior, you have indeed done your best to share the burden for Lord Envoy, which is commendable."
"But..." He Zhenghao emphasized with a heavy tone, "To strike iron, one must be strong! Even if Senior is highly regarded by Lord Envoy, your strength is only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and the early stage at that. Currently, you can still control those under you in this small Congyun Sea. However, as Lord Envoy's cultivation continues to recover, and his realm gets higher, he will surely have Nascent Soul and Core Formation experts under him. If Senior doesn't advance, how can you command respect at that time?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing'ang's expression changed.
At first, he seemed ready to retort, but soon he fell into contemplation.
Seeing this, He Zhenghao couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
"Gao Yuan's arguments are quite effective. If my Dao heart wasn't firm, I might have been persuaded by him initially." He Zhenghao thought to himself.
After a long time, Zhou Qing'ang seemed to have figured things out, revealing a bitter expression.
"Senior is right. However, I can't break free and find the tranquility to cultivate." He looked at He Zhenghao and spoke.
He Zhenghao's expression lifted, "Senior Zhou, why not follow Gao Yuan's example? Inside the remnants of the Chao Yuan Sect, there must be tremendous opportunities. If you can obtain them, it's certain to enhance your cultivation. Even breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm is not impossible."
Zhou Qing'ang hesitated to speak.
He Zhenghao took the lead, "I know what Senior is worried about. You're concerned about being tied up with political affairs, right? Rest assured, with me around! Even with an extra duty, it doesn't matter! As long as there's an opportunity, it's worth it!"
Zhou Qing'ang looked at He Zhenghao with suspicion, "In that case, why doesn't Brother He go? Since when did you start considering the welfare of your colleagues?"
He Zhenghao showed a displeased look, "You say that. Lord Envoy reminded us at the beginning that among us, unity comes first. For the two brothers to improve their cultivation, I worked hard for a while, what's wrong with that?"
"Keep in mind that as Lord Envoy's cultivation becomes higher, there will undoubtedly be more people following him. We are a natural alliance, helping you is helping myself."
He Zhenghao paused, observed Zhou Qing'ang's expression, and continued, "Moreover, I have recently had some insights. I am afraid I am not far from breaking through to the Nascent Soul. Without relying on opportunities, I am confident I can ascend within ten years!"
"Why not share in the joy of success?"
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 643: Flying Stones Plunge into the Deep Sea
"Confident in reaching Nascent Soul within ten years?" Zhou Qing'ang looked at the smug He Zhenghao, a hint of astonishment flashing across his face.
This was not a pretense.
Upon careful observation, he realized He Zhenghao might not be bluffing. A mysterious aura surrounded him, extremely secretive. If He Zhenghao hadn't exposed it himself and if the current "Zhou Qing'ang" wasn't actually transformed by Li Fan's true self, it would be difficult to detect.
Recalling the records of the Transmutation Stones in his mind, Li Fan instantly understood the origin of this transformation. It was the plain white jade given to He Zhenghao by He Xinxin before leaving. He instructed him to place it in his Dantian to nurture it.
"He hasn't cultivated properly and relies solely on this white jade, yet he is confident in advancing from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul in such a short time..."
"This white jade is indeed a remarkable treasure! Even for the Heng Family in Tianyu Prefecture, it is probably extremely rare. He Xinxin spared no effort to save his old father's life."
"However..."
"Zhou Qing'ang" cast a barely noticeable cold gaze at He Zhenghao, silently laughing.
He then put on a surprised expression, "Senior's progress is unexpectedly fast? Truly beyond my expectations. It seems Senior's talent and diligence surpass both me and Gao Yuan."
A hint of embarrassment flashed across He Zhenghao's face, but he quickly covered it up, saying arrogantly, "Hehe, Senior, no need to be discouraged. The cultivation realm of cultivators like us is not only influenced by talent but also closely tied to diligence and opportunities. Senior, even with slightly inferior talent, has great opportunities ahead. Now that the chance is here, you shouldn't miss it!"
Listening to He Zhenghao's persuasion, Zhou Qing'ang seemed to lower his head into contemplation.
Just when He Zhenghao thought he had convinced him and was feeling pleased, Zhou Qing'ang let out a long sigh and rejected his suggestion.
"Indeed, as Senior said, enhancing one's strength is crucial to better serve Lord Envoy. However, opportunities often come with dangers. As for me..." Zhou Qing'ang shook his head, wearing a regretful expression.
"I've always been unfortunate! Even if there are opportunities in the remnants of the Chao Yuan Sect, it's probably not my turn! I'd rather stay in the Congyun Sea, focus on my job here."
"Wait until Lord Envoy..."
Zhou Qing'ang deliberately paused, then continued, "Lord Envoy never mistreats his subordinates. Seeing our hard work, he might reward us generously, enhancing our cultivation realms!"
"Thank you for your kind advice, Senior He!" Zhou Qing'ang cupped his hands and left the Political Hall.
Watching Zhou Qing'ang's back, He Zhenghao's expression changed constantly, "This kid is indeed Lord Envoy's confidant, knowing quite a bit! It seems my choice was right. Since he refuses to leave the Congyun Sea, it indicates that not only is it not dangerous here, but there are also significant benefits..."
With the last trace of worry eliminated from his mind, He Zhenghao made up his mind completely.
Seeing He Zhenghao's eyes filled with both gloom and infinite greed, Li Fan knew what he was thinking.
"The more greedy, the more foolish; the more foolish, the more greedy."
"A vicious cycle. The He Zhenghao of this world is no longer the Senior He I'm familiar with!"
"Experiences shape personality and have a profound impact."
After pondering for a moment, Li Fan felt a vague realization in his heart.
"Perhaps it has something to do with the foundation of the new law, the greed for plundering the heavens and earth."
Putting this matter aside, in the following period, Li Fan pretended to be Zhou Qing'ang as usual, efficiently handling various matters.
The "Secret Envoy Li Fan," the transformed clone, stayed in the secret room of the Political Hall, claiming to be in seclusion.
Quietly exchanging between the true self and the clone, Li Fan also started secretly crafting a puppet with Zhou Qing'ang's appearance.
Deep in the Congyun Sea, he manipulated the Earthfire Returning to Origin Array, consuming some ordinary materials to build a skeletal puppet. Then, using the method of the [Mysterious Transmutation True Spirit Transformation], he attached a layer of skin and flesh to the skeletal puppet.
Finally, he attached a trace of his divine sense.
Successfully creating a puppet with the exact appearance of Zhou Qing'ang.
After transferring all items, including clothing and storage rings, Li Fan, in his true form, looked at the azure Congyun Sea, shaking his head.
"It's time to leave," he thought so.
He returned to his original appearance without looking back and rushed towards the location of the Changsheng Valley's secret realm.
The puppet Zhou Qing'ang, manipulated by the lingering divine sense of Li Fan, returned alone to the Congyun Immortal City.
Since Zhou Qing'ang was usually reserved and didn't often speak or laugh, his somewhat dull expression didn't arouse suspicion among other cultivators for the time being.
Li Fan intentionally reduced his interactions with outsiders. When he did meet someone, he appeared busy, handling political affairs with a serious demeanor.
Therefore, in the vast Congyun City, even with a constant flow of cultivators coming and going, no one suspected that Zhou Qing'ang had secretly undergone a transformation.
Moreover, Li Fan deliberately avoided meeting people, so even if there were some flaws, it would take time for others to notice.
Although there were still some noticeable flaws, over time, someone was bound to discover them.
However, the entire Congyun Sea, including all the beings within it, was reaching its final moments.
While Li Fan's true self was still on the way, one day, both himself and the puppet sensed a sudden disturbance.
"What is that?"
Continuous exclamations rose from the Congyun City, prompting Li Fan to look towards the sky.
A massive black fireball appeared in the sky without warning, carrying a pitch-black tail, and violently smashed towards the Congyun Sea.
"What is this?" Li Fan's pupils contracted suddenly.
"Crimson Flame?" Sensing the ambiguous aura emanating from the black fireball, Li Fan was uncertain.
The black fireball moved at an incredible speed, and before the cultivators in the Congyun Sea could react, it had already fallen from the sky into the sea.
Any seawater it touched evaporated instantly due to the high temperature.
In the sea, a massive cavity appeared, and the black fireball collided fiercely with the seafloor.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
In the tremendous roar, the entire Congyun Sea shook violently. Even the Congyun City high in the clouds was swept by shockwaves shortly afterward, swaying like a floating duckweed in the wind.
Under the intense impact, a towering tsunami, with the landing point of the black fireball as its center, swept towards the surroundings.
Cultivators witnessed that within the hundreds of meters high waves, half of them were mixed with black flames.
Wherever the tsunami passed, a mixture of water and fire destroyed countless islands in an instant.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 644: Heaven and Earth Transform
The waves containing black flames were truly terrifying. Not only were ordinary islands easily destroyed, but even large islands guarded by protective arrays and cultivators were reduced to ashes in the face of this terrifying destructive force.
The cultivators guarding the islands didn't even have a chance to resist; they disappeared completely in the sky.
The bizarre phenomenon of the fallen cultivators only lasted a moment, covered by the dense black aura in the sky.
The giant waves continued to sweep, and the massive black fireball, after the earth-shattering collision, transformed into countless black streaks of light, flying in various directions across the Congyun Sea.
This apocalyptic scene initially left the cultivators in Congyun City momentarily stunned. However, soon after, they couldn't contain their panic, screaming in fear.
"Is this the end of the world?"
"A catastrophe! A terrifying catastrophe is upon us!"
"Why didn't the Myriad Immortals Alliance give any warning about such large meteorites? What are they doing?"
Some cultivators were terrified, some went mad, and some were furious. Others still held confidence in the Myriad Immortals Alliance, thinking it was just a small natural disaster. Even if the horrifying tsunami could destroy all the islands in the Congyun Sea, the Congyun City high in the clouds should remain unharmed.
However, there were cultivators prioritizing survival.
"Run!"
This thought flashed through their minds.
However, when they rushed to the Transmission Square, they discovered a horrifying situation.
"Damn it, why have all the teleportation arrays lost their effect!"
"We're done! There's nowhere to escape. We're doomed!"
"It's a conspiracy! It must be a conspiracy by the Myriad Immortals Alliance!"
The cultivators on the square were in chaos, and their yelling quickly spread panic throughout the entire Congyun City.
After a short while, all the cultivators in the city knew about the failure of the teleportation arrays.
Watching the approaching tsunami, the cultivators couldn't help but fall into panic.
At this moment, however, He Zhenghao remained unusually calm. Even though there was some fear in his heart, he suppressed it with self-conviction.
"This terrifying power should be the manifestation of the will of heaven and earth. I wonder when it will reveal its true form? It's said that the true form of the will of heaven and earth is humanoid."
He Zhenghao felt a bit uneasy.
"It should be fine. Since the Secret Envoy could foresee the arrival of the will of heaven and earth, he must have made preparations."
He comforted himself.
Sure enough, not long after he thought this, Li Fan's voice echoed throughout the entire Congyun City.
"Don't panic, fellow cultivators! With Hongxi Immortal Lord present, nothing serious will happen!"
"Just stay in the city!"
"The Strategy Hall, activate all defensive formations to deal with the disaster! The Martial Hall, assemble to maintain order!"
The calm voice reverberated continuously. Like having a backbone, the cultivators instantly calmed down temporarily.
Soon after, a light curtain enveloped the entire Congyun Immortal City, and cultivators started reinforcing various formation nodes.
Order briefly returned to Congyun Immortal City.
Li Fan looked into the sky at the vast black streaks of light and the sweeping tsunami, then glanced at the white-robed Hongxi Immortal Lord not far away.
Li Fan saw a serious expression on his face.
"Black flames? Has Chi Yan been strengthened, or is it another will of heaven and earth?"
"Ink Flame?"
Although Li Fan was somewhat surprised by the unexpected changes in this world, overall, the result was within his expectations.
In the previous lifetimes, Chi Yan, as part of his innate duty, descended to burn the sea and bring about the end of the world.
After being refined by cultivators, Chi Yan would trigger a fierce counterattack from the will of heaven and earth.
Chapter 645: The Arrival of Annihilation
The all-encompassing Ink Slaughter descended, completely turning the Congyun Sea into nothingness. However, in this world, due to the battles involving Tianyi, Master, and the Fishing Father, the predetermined time for annihilation was significantly advanced.
"Chi Yan's burning of the sea still has room to spare."
"If the will of heaven and earth initially harbored intentions of complete destruction, the one descending wouldn't be the weak stoker Chi Yan but a more powerful will of heaven and earth."
"Heaven's duty, transformations, destiny..."
Li Fan's thoughts turned, hinting at an understanding.
"The will of heaven and earth is not unchanging but dynamically changes based on actual circumstances."
"But the objective remains the same..."
"The Congyun Sea must die!"
"The reason behind this might be related not only to cultivators robbing the heavens but also to Tianyi and his group!"
Li Fan's gaze flickered.
While Li Fan contemplated, a wave was about to reach below Congyun City.
Even though Congyun Immortal City was high in the clouds, the hundreds of meters tall wave seemed incapable of affecting it. However, for some unknown reason, cultivators inside the city felt an ominous premonition.
The cultivators' premonition proved correct.
After the massive wave with flickering black flames arrived below Congyun City, it suddenly changed its trajectory as if alive, rushing violently towards the sky.
Gasps resounded.
At this moment, Hongxi Immortal Lord, who had been silently watching, finally acted.
Below Congyun Immortal City, a continuous range of mountains suddenly appeared, like a Great Wall, blocking the oncoming wave.
The wave was stopped and fell back into the sea.
But Li Fan, who had witnessed Hongxi Immortal Lord's full power several times, could tell that this seemingly casual strike had already utilized nearly half of Hongxi's strength.
"So strong?"
Feeling the slight tremor beneath his feet, Li Fan squinted.
Even though he was currently just a clone, he harbored the three techniques transmitted by his true self. This allowed him to deceive people effectively in crucial moments.
The reason for doing so was to thoroughly confirm the news of the death of Li Fan, a disciple of the Tianji Sect.
Li Fan believed that even in the face of the impending calamity like the burning sea, the Myriad Immortals Alliance would find a way to figure out the scenes before the Congyun Sea was destroyed.
The act had to be realistic, without revealing any flaws.
"Now is not the time to make a move."
"Chi Yan... no, where is the true form of Ink Flame now?"
Li Fan stared closely at the surface of the Congyun Sea, trying to find some clues.
Meanwhile, the temporarily blocked wave, as if giving up, fell back to the sea surface, entering a state of calm.
Following that, a myriad of black flowing flames assaulted.
Like intelligent entities, they altered their trajectories upon seeing the blocked wave, collectively flying towards Congyun City.
This spectacular scene left the cultivators in collective silence.
Boom!
When the first flame collided forcefully with the protective array, the entire Congyun City shook violently.
Even more astonishingly, with just one strike, fine cracks appeared on the protective shield.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 645: The Eternal Decision
Inside Congyun Immortal City, the cultivators were in an uproar when they saw the situation.
Fortunately, since the last incident where Wanxian Island was raided and taken away by the Five Elders, the rebuilt defense level of Congyun City exceeded that of ordinary regional immortal cities. It was comparable to the level of the central states. After the protective array's brilliance circulated, the crack instantly disappeared.
Before the crowd could breathe a sigh of relief, the second black flame collided with the protective shield. This time, the intensity was even greater than before. The celestial city swayed slightly, as if it would fall from the sky in the next second.
What made everyone even more frightened was that after this black flame burst, it didn't completely disappear. Instead, it left behind a viscous black substance that wriggled and corroded the protective array. Even from a distance, one could hear the sizzling sound from the outer periphery of the array.
"The Congyun City's Celestial Genesis Array, although powerful, won't last long in this situation." Li Fan, as a formation master, quickly made a judgment.
While the formation and the black viscous substance were deadlocked, countless black flowing lights continued to fly towards Congyun Immortal City. Although a purple radiance emitted from the heavenly statue knocked down some of the flowing flames, more were still unstoppable, bombarding Congyun City.
In an instant, Congyun Immortal City, like leaves swaying in the wind and rain, appeared extremely precarious.
At this moment, Hongxi Immortal Lord finally showed his determination as the leader of a state.
He transformed into a giant standing between heaven and earth, intercepting numerous black flames while coldly ordering, "Activate the entire Congyun Sea's Celestial Genesis Array. Fully absorb the surrounding nodes to ensure Congyun City is in optimal condition!"
Saying this, he struck a magical seal and flew towards the highest point of Congyun City.
After this statement, Congyun City fell silent for a moment. Most cultivators didn't understand Hongxi Immortal Lord's meaning, but those who understood turned pale instantly.
Li Fan squinted at Hongxi, secretly admiring, "Good courage!"
Having studied formations for countless years, Li Fan was well aware of the overall defense system of Wanxian Alliance. Each city would build a protective formation. Within a state, the central suspended Heavenly City served as the core, with hundreds of small protective formations forming a medium-sized formation spanning the entire state.
In Wanxian Alliance's territory, all the medium-sized formations from various states combined to form a huge and terrifying array covering almost half of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Progressive layers, boundless power!
The types of protective formations in Wanxian Alliance changed every five hundred years. Previously, on a sunken island, Li Fan had seen the once-used "Myriad Mountains and Rivers Formation." Now, Wanxian Alliance used the "Celestial Genesis Array."
Although the protective ability was weaker than the Myriad Mountains and Rivers Formation, it had an irreplaceable function.
That was absorbing the essence of living beings inside the formation to strengthen its efficacy!
Therefore, Hongxi Immortal Lord's intention was quite clear.
Fully activate the Celestial Genesis Array, absorbing the essence of the surviving beings on the islands in Congyun Sea. This was to maintain the safety of Congyun Immortal City.
Rationally speaking, this choice was not a problem. In the face of this calamity, besides the current Congyun City, which could barely resist, all other islands were destined to turn into ashes in an instant. By using the lives of those who were about to die, they might strengthen the formation and give the cultivators in Congyun City a glimmer of hope.
However...
Being annihilated by the will of heaven and earth and being killed by one's own people were two different matters.
Not everyone could make such a ruthless decision, treating the lives of their compatriots as if they were nothing.
So, after Hongxi Immortal Lord's words spread continuously, the cultivators in the formation hall remained silent and took no action.
Hongxi himself seemed reluctant to repeat the order, looking at the crumbling protective shield without giving another command.
"I'll help you a bit."
Li Fan's eyes flashed. His clone flew into the air, loudly proclaiming, "What are you still standing around for? At this critical moment of life and death, just follow orders! All consequences will be borne jointly by Lord Hongxi and me!"
Hongxi looked at Li Fan with some surprise.
The cultivators in the formation hall exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and finally made a determined decision.
Magical seals flew to various nodes of the Celestial Genesis Array, and the brilliance on the protective shield suddenly surged.
As if time had suddenly frozen, the next moment, an endless essence surged from all directions. The purple light shield, in an instant, became substantial, easily blocking the impact of the black flowing flames.
There were no more violent vibrations, only continuous muffled sounds.
The crisis was temporarily averted, but the surviving cultivators in Congyun City had no excitement on their faces. Along with the massive enhancement of the Celestial Genesis Array, there were incessant wails and curses on the light screen. Faintly visible were the horrifying scenes of humans being instantly drained of all essence, turning into skeletons.
It was like a hell on earth, chilling and terrifying.
"Although it can protect us for a while, it's not a long-term solution. All communication with headquarters has been completely cut off. Staying here is just waiting for death."
"I intend to go out and meet this incarnation of the will of heaven and earth. I'll leave it to you here!" Hongxi Immortal Lord ignored the terrifying scene and conveyed his voice to Li Fan.
Then, he looked into the distance at the location where the black meteorites were falling and took a step out.
With a few flashes, he disappeared from everyone's sight.
Hongxi Immortal Lord's departure made the originally calm cultivators uneasy again. Fortunately, Master Mishi was still present, so they could maintain a bit of peace of mind.
Li Fan, on the other hand, had a cold face, staring intently at the center of Congyun Sea, patiently waiting.
Time passed slowly, and when the first wave of black flowing flames was completely blocked, the crisis of annihilation seemed to have passed. The waves of Congyun Sea gradually calmed down, leaving only the black viscous gel still attached to the protective light shield, bearing witness to the signs of the catastrophe that had once existed.
This abnormal calmness had a taste of an approaching storm.
Li Fan also sensed something amiss.
"Where is Heiyan?" Feeling the rapid return of Hongxi Immortal Lord's aura, Li Fan's gaze swept across the sky and then looked towards the deep sea.
It seemed that a terrifying disaster was brewing in the depths of the sea.
Pop!
A bubble suddenly appeared on the sea surface. Then, a corpse of a fish, cooked as if boiled, floated upside down.
After that, in an instant, the entire Congyun Sea seemed to boil.
Countless bubbles surged, accompanied by the corpses of countless sea creatures.
(End of this chapter)