Zhang Xu stroked his beard, his expression grave. "The bond between blood relatives is a mysterious thing, but it should not be dismissed. Brother Sun, perhaps you should send a message to your family and ease your mind."
Huayue Ye echoed his sentiment.
"Thank you for your advice." Sun Ang, Li Fan's true body, considered their words for a moment. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent a spiritual talisman flying out of the Law Derivation Jade's chamber.
Each Guardian was granted a single use of this precious talisman every century. Had it not been for Xu Yuanxian's favor, granting him a century's respite from his duties, he wouldn't have been able to contact the outside world, even now.
A few hours later, Sun Luyuan, the head of the Sun Clan, arrived, his face etched with sorrow.
"Your uncle… he has perished."
Li Fan allowed shock to register on his face, quickly transitioning to guilt and grief. "When he left, I... I had a premonition…"
Sun Luyuan placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Life and death are fickle things, Lu'er. Luchang's death was not your fault. You mustn't blame yourself."
"I…" Li Fan choked back a retort, reminding himself to maintain the charade.
Sun Luyuan cleared his throat. "These are turbulent times, but do not worry. With me here, the Sun Clan will stand strong. Stay safe within these walls."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "If necessary, I will find a way to get you out."
His words held a double meaning, a promise only Li Fan could decipher.
Li Fan, fully aware that the Sun Clan had pledged their allegiance to the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty, understood the true intent behind Sun Luyuan's words. He forced himself to appear grateful. "I can endure it, Uncle. Please, don't waste any more resources on me."
…
While this poignant scene of familial devotion unfolded, Li Fan's other self, inhabiting Fu Yuansheng's body, faced a very different reality – one filled with the naked greed of his so-called family.
"Little Sheng, what stroke of incredible luck led you to a Dao Integration technique?"
"Yuansheng, has the clan not treated you well all these years? It's time to repay our kindness."
"Sheng'er, in just two days, over a dozen Soul Formation cultivators have come knocking. Any one of them could crush our Fu Clan! For the sake of our future, please, just hand over the technique."
"Fu Yuansheng, don't think this good fortune will last! You're just a Golden Core cultivator. How can you possibly protect such a treasure? It's better to hand it over willingly and secure a brighter future, than have it ripped from you by force!"
The moment he left the Alliance headquarters, his communication jade token, previously silent due to the hall's restrictions, erupted with messages. Each one seethed with undisguised greed and avarice, a torrent of demands and threats that could shake even the most resolute cultivator. Had he been the real Fu Yuansheng, his Dao Heart would have shattered under the weight of this betrayal.
But Li Fan simply observed, his expression shifting as he read the increasingly frantic messages.
"Such is the darkness within the human heart," he mused, a bitter smile touching his lips. "As the saying goes, 'Different environments breed different people.' This wouldn't happen within the Sacred Dynasty. The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance... they have lost their way. Their end is near."
"Time to give them a little push."
A cold smile flickered across his face, then vanished as he allowed despair and outrage to fill his features.
Instead of returning to the Fu Clan, he used a teleportation formation, appearing in the bustling Tianxu Celestial City. He made no attempt to conceal his presence.
It didn't take long for his arrival to draw attention.
Even those who didn't know him noticed the hungry, predatory gazes directed his way. It didn't take much to figure out why.
Fu Yuansheng, the target of their avarice, stumbled through the city streets, his face pale, his eyes darting about in fear.
Instead of seeking refuge, or using another teleportation formation to escape, he did something even more reckless.
He took to the sky, fleeing the city on foot.
A crowd of cultivators, a mix of genuine opportunists and thrill-seekers, followed, their greed outweighing their common sense.
Li Fan, maintaining his facade of fear, allowed them to follow, setting a leisurely pace. He was waiting for the perfect opportunity to escalate the situation, to turn this spark of greed into a raging inferno.
He flew for hours, leading his pursuers on a merry chase through the clouds.
Then, the person he had been waiting for arrived.
Fu Linmu, Fu Yuansheng's nominal father.
"You ungrateful wretch!" Fu Linmu roared, his voice booming across the sky. "The Clan Head summoned you, and you dare to disobey?!"
He landed before Fu Yuansheng, unleashing a torrent of carefully crafted anger and disappointment. Behind him stood a Soul Formation cultivator, arms crossed, eyes narrowed, his potent aura radiating outwards.
Li Fan stopped, trembling as if terrified of his father.
Fu Linmu continued his tirade, appealing to his son's sense of duty and familial loyalty. Then he gestured towards the Soul Formation expert behind him.
"This is Senior Fu Tongtian, from the Tianquan Region," he said, his voice dripping with honeyed poison. "A distant relative of ours."
"Our clan… we simply can't protect this Dao Integration technique, Yuansheng. It will bring you nothing but trouble. Give it to Senior Fu… it's for your own good."
Li Fan seemed to waver, his resolve crumbling under his father's "concern." He was about to agree when…
Another group of cultivators arrived, their auras radiating power.
Another elder from the Fu Clan, this one accompanied by a different Soul Formation expert.
Their intentions were clear. They too wanted the technique.
Li Fan feigned confusion, glancing between the two groups, unsure who to appease.
As the two Soul Formation experts squared off, their gazes locked in a silent battle of wills, more cultivators arrived, drawn by the commotion.
"Please, everyone!" A newcomer's voice rose above the din. "It's just a single Dao Integration technique. Let's not resort to bloodshed. We can settle this like civilized cultivators." He spoke as if Fu Yuansheng, the owner of the technique, was irrelevant, as if it was already theirs to distribute.
"Indeed," another agreed. "If the price of obtaining this technique is too high, we'd be better off simply purchasing one from the Heavenly Profound Mirror."
"Perhaps," another suggested, his voice laced with curiosity, "we should find out what kind of technique this young master Fu has obtained."
They quickly reached a consensus, their collective gaze turning to Li Fan, their avarice barely concealed.
Unbeknownst to them, this was exactly what he had been hoping for.
Before entering the Law Derivation Jade's chamber, Li Fan had anticipated using this technique to cause chaos. That's why he had carefully selected high-level techniques as the foundation for the Law Derivation Jade to work with.
The resulting technique was undeniably powerful, even beneficial to him.
Fu Yuansheng, his face a mask of anguish, took a deep breath and spoke, his voice heavy with carefully crafted despair. "The technique I received… it's called the Heaven Connecting Spirit Manifestation Technique."
"The current cultivation system… it goes against the natural order. Yet we are forced to rely on the world's resources to advance. For those born into powerful clans, this is not an issue. But for those of us without power or influence… even those with exceptional talent… we are forever limited."
His words resonated with many, especially those from smaller clans who had struggled to acquire resources.
Li Fan continued, his voice gaining strength. "I've always dreamed of breaking free from these limitations. Thanks to Senior Qianxun's generosity, who gifted me the Summoning Jade Token, I finally had a chance to realize that dream."
"This Heaven Connecting Spirit Manifestation Technique… it allows a cultivator to strengthen their connection to the Xuanhuang World, to minimize the Heavenly Dao's resistance. This connection enables the cultivator to easily locate Nascent Soul Grotto-Heavens, to find essential resources for breakthroughs like the Transformations of Birth. At higher levels, even sensing the locations of Heavenly Souls becomes… almost effortless."
"With this technique, given enough time, even someone like me, Fu Yuansheng, could aspire to Dao Integration! But I never expected… never imagined..." His voice cracked, his eyes welling up.
"That the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance would treat a lowly cultivator like me with such contempt! They won't even give me a chance!"
His voice rose in outrage. Then, with a theatrical gesture of defiance, he released the core principles of the Heaven Connecting Spirit Manifestation Technique, allowing the text to materialize in the sky above for all to see.
Even with a cursory glance, those present who had reached Dao Integration recognized the potency of this technique. It was far too advanced for a Golden Core cultivator to have fabricated.
The expressions of the Soul Formation experts shifted, a mixture of greed, suspicion, and excitement. The atmosphere crackled with tension.
"Enough." One of the Soul Formation experts, radiating authority, waved his hand, erasing the text. He surveyed the crowd, his voice cold. "We all understand the value of this technique."
"Indeed," another agreed. "Even among Dao Integration techniques, there are levels of quality. If what this young man claims is true, then this technique is far more valuable than anything I've ever encountered."
A third cultivator chuckled, a chilling note in his voice. "Even if half of us were to die here today, the survivor would still be getting a bargain."
The tension ratcheted up another notch, fueled by their collective greed.
The Fu Clan members, however, wore expressions of shock and regret. Had they known Fu Yuansheng possessed such a treasure, a technique capable of establishing a true cultivation dynasty, they would have shielded him at all costs! Even if they had decided to sell it, they could have commanded a far higher price.
But it was too late for regrets.
As the Soul Formation experts bickered amongst themselves, a new player arrived, his powerful aura silencing their petty squabbles.
The newly ascended Red Willow Immortal Venerable. He had achieved his breakthrough only a few days ago. He had been searching for a suitable cultivation technique, and hearing rumors of Fu Yuansheng's discovery, had come to investigate.
He hadn't expected to find such a prize.
The difference in power between Soul Formation and Dao Integration was vast, an insurmountable gulf. None of them dared to challenge him.
Especially since Red Willow wasn't alone. He had the backing of a powerful clan.
Faced with overwhelming power on two fronts, the Soul Formation experts backed down, their greed reluctantly quelled.
Red Willow, eager to claim his prize, demanded that Fu Yuansheng hand over the technique.
"Senior, please, have mercy on our Fu Clan once you possess this technique," Li Fan pleaded, forcing a melodramatic sigh. His words shamed the surrounding Fu Clan members, their faces burning with guilt and resentment.
As Red Willow approached, his expression eager, Li Fan transmitted the complete Heaven Connecting Spirit Manifestation Technique directly into the Dao Integration expert's mind.
"Truly a magnificent technique," Red Willow murmured, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Now, young Fu," he said, his voice hardening, "sign this agreement, transferring ownership of the technique to me. Rest assured, I will not mistreat your clan."
Li Fan bowed his head. "As you command, Senior." He reached for the golden agreement, his fingers trembling convincingly.
And then…
As if affected by the residual energy of the Heaven Connecting Spirit Manifestation Technique he had just received, Red Willow felt a wave of dizziness.
The image of Fu Yuansheng before him twisted, morphing into a horrifying, monstrous figure, its claws reaching for his face.
He flinched, instinctively lashing out with a burst of crimson energy.
The energy struck Fu Yuansheng directly.
The power of a Dao Integration expert, even an unintentional attack, was far beyond anything a Golden Core cultivator could withstand.
Fu Yuansheng's eyes widened in shock, disbelief etched onto his face as his body disintegrated, his soul scattered.
The brutal, unexpected act stunned everyone present.
They stared at Red Willow Immortal Venerable, their faces frozen in a mixture of shock and horror.
Even Red Willow seemed taken aback by his actions. He stared at his hand, dazed.
"Perhaps... the effects of my recent breakthrough... the influence of the Heavenly Soul... perhaps it hasn't fully subsided?"
His second thought was more pragmatic. "Fortunately, I already have the Heaven Connecting Spirit Manifestation Technique."
"Sheng'er!" The stunned silence shattered as the Fu Clan members cried out in grief and rage.
Several lunged towards Red Willow, their hatred outweighing their fear, their grief overwhelming any sense of self-preservation.
The celestial phenomenon that marked a cultivator's death materialized above, a silent testament to Fu Yuansheng's demise.
Red Willow, looking down upon this throng of enraged "ants," felt a flicker of annoyance.
He knew, however, that he was in the wrong. He couldn't afford to lose face, not with so many witnesses.
"Rest assured," he said, his voice carefully controlled. "I will honor my word. Your clan will be compensated."
The Fu Clan's cries subsided, replaced by a simmering resentment.
After all, Fu Yuansheng was dead. It would be foolish to challenge a Dao Integration expert over a corpse.
Red Willow departed, taking the Fu Clan members with him.
The Soul Formation experts exchanged glances, a mix of awe and apprehension swirling in their eyes.
"It seems that technique is truly valuable," one mused. "Red Willow Immortal Venerable… he chose to silence that young man to ensure its secrecy."
"He didn't even trust a signed agreement?" Another shook his head in disbelief. "This newly ascended Dao Integration expert… he's far too paranoid."
"What good is an agreement?" a third countered. "There are countless techniques and secret arts that allow one to break agreements and escape the consequences."
"And this was in broad daylight, with witnesses," a fourth added. "Imagine what he'd do in the shadows, with no one watching."
"Dao Integration experts… so powerful, so above the law. It seems the rules of the Alliance… they don't apply to them."
"Of course not. Do you honestly believe the Alliance would punish a true Dao Integration expert for killing a Golden Core cultivator? Even if they put on a show, it would be meaningless."
"Reaching Dao Integration… it changes everything. Just like those Rainbow Lights that allow cultivators to venture beyond the realm. Only Dao Integration experts qualify."
…
The conversation died down, and the Soul Formation experts dispersed.
The remaining cultivators, those at the lower stages of cultivation - Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul - lingered, their eyes fixed on the fading celestial phenomenon, a chilling reminder of Fu Yuansheng's demise.
A sense of unease, a primal fear, settled over them.
And this fear, nurtured by an unseen hand, began to transform into anger, a slow-burning rage.
"To them, we are nothing but ants," one whispered.
"What good are the Alliance's laws, if they only protect the powerful?" another asked, his voice bitter.
"Today it was Fu Yuansheng. Who will be next? Which one of us will be unjustly killed tomorrow?"
…
An unsettling silence descended upon the crowd.
They didn't need to speak. The anger, the resentment, the fear… it was all there, in their eyes.
But none dared to speak openly. Not while the Alliance held sway.
Perhaps…
All they needed was an opportunity.
Eventually, the crowd dispersed, their hearts heavy, their minds churning with dangerous thoughts.
Li Fan, a wisp of his consciousness observing the scene, smiled.
"The fire has been lit," he mused. "It won't take much to engulf the entire Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance." He was pleased with his handiwork.
As he had anticipated, news of Red Willow Immortal Venerable's blatant act spread throughout the Alliance like wildfire, carried by whispers and the Heavenly Profound Mirrors. However, since the Fu Clan had publicly accepted Red Willow's flimsy excuse - blaming his actions on instability caused by his recent breakthrough - the Alliance chose not to pursue the matter further. Red Willow received a paltry fine, a slap on the wrist.
Ironically, news of the Heaven Connecting Spirit Manifestation Technique spread even faster. Numerous clans, their greed piqued, reached out to Red Willow, offering vast sums of wealth in exchange for his assistance in locating Heavenly Souls. His status, despite being a newly ascended Dao Integration expert, quickly eclipsed that of many established experts.
As for Fu Yuansheng, the "owner" of the technique, the victim of this brazen injustice, he was quickly forgotten.
…
"How ironic. The perpetrator goes unpunished and is rewarded instead." Wang Xuanba shook his head as he read the report detailing the events in Guangyang Celestial City.
"Here in the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty," Ou Shangtian scoffed, "even I, a direct disciple of the Sacred Emperor, would face severe punishment for such a transgression! At the very least, I'd be imprisoned for centuries. But the Alliance... they simply let it slide. How benevolent of them. Or should I say, how utterly corrupt!"
Sun Erlang glanced at his junior brother, a wry smile on his face. "Master intends to use this incident as an example, as propaganda. To rally our people and to further destabilize the Alliance. After all, most cultivators within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance are below the Soul Formation stage."
Ou Shangtian rolled his eyes. "What's the point of winning over those weaklings? I'll just slaughter them all!"
Sun Erlang's expression hardened. "Don't be foolish! Those who uphold the Dao gain support, while those who stray from it are abandoned. The Alliance has lost the hearts of its people. Our conquest will be seen as a righteous act, a liberation."
"A just cause, guided by the Dao… that is the path to true victory."
Ou Shangtian, respecting his senior brother's authority, didn't argue further. He simply muttered, "All that fancy talk… in the end, strength is all that matters."
Their banter subsided, and the disciples focused on the task at hand.
"Shangtian, how is the construction of your Myriad Manifestation Teleportation Formation progressing?" Sun Erlang asked.
A smug grin spread across Ou Shangtian's face. "Leave it to me, Senior Brother. I've already locked onto every region controlled by the Alliance. With Master's command, we can deploy our troops instantaneously, appearing in any designated region. With the Universal Worthy Vessels and the cover provided by the White Mist Barriers, we'll be at their doorstep before they even know what hit them!"
Wang Xuanba added, "Our agents within the Alliance are ready. Once the time is right, the Heavenly Profound Mirrors and teleportation formations in every region… they'll all go dark."
A map of the Alliance's territory appeared before them.
"Each region will be isolated, unable to support each other," Sun Erlang said confidently. "We've assessed their strengths. We will divide and conquer. It will be swift and decisive."
"The true challenge lies with the four central regions and the Alliance headquarters."
He scanned the list of powerful cultivators stationed in each region, his gaze lingering on the center of the map.
"Master… when he summoned me," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "he hinted at a plan. A method to completely seal off the four central regions, along with the Alliance headquarters. We won't need to worry about reinforcements. We can focus on securing each region."
"We'll also use formations to seal off the Alliance's hidden realms - those located within the White Mist and across the various regions. Places like Hidden Dragon Abyss, Phoenix Mist City, the Vast Expanse Mountains, and Thundering Immortal City. Though each one houses a relatively small force, their combined strength cannot be underestimated. We'll need to deal with them swiftly."
The other disciples listened to Sun Erlang's battle plans with the utmost seriousness.
Only Ou Shangtian, ever the mischievous one, couldn't help grinning. "Senior Brother, I've seen their pitiful formation skills. They're nothing compared to Master's. The sealing formations he's created… they'll be trapped for years! More than enough time for us to conquer the rest of their territory."
Then he frowned. "But Master… surely we'd need an enormous amount of materials for formations of that scale?"
Sun Erlang smiled, placing a Luminous Stone Mother before them.
Ou Shangtian's jaw dropped as he glanced at the contents within. "This is… this is incredible! Did Master raid the Alliance's treasury?"
Sun Erlang chuckled. "Master gave me three of these, each one filled to the brim. And I hear Daoist Ou has received his own share of supplies. So, don't worry about resources, Shangtian. Just focus on honing your formation skills."
Ou Shangtian, hearing that his father was involved, nodded eagerly.
Sun Erlang turned his attention to Su Yuqing and Liuli, who had remained silent.
Ever since they had been assigned to guard the subterranean realm, the world of perpetual darkness, their personalities seemed to have been affected by that place. They had become quiet and introspective.
"Junior Sister," Sun Erlang asked, "how are the reinforcements from the smaller worlds coming along?"
"Faster than expected, Senior Brother. Rest assured, the Myriad World Alliance will be ready when the time comes." Su Yuqing's voice was soft, but there was a new strength in her tone.
Her time spent educating and guiding the Nether Race in the subterranean world had given her insights into the connection between a world's Heavenly Dao and its inhabitants. Coupled with her own experience in the Outer Realm, where she had been touched by the Heavenly Dao, she found it easier to build rapport with the Heavenly Daos of other worlds.
Leveraging this advantage, she had been traveling between the smaller worlds, carrying out the Sacred Emperor's orders.
She had used both persuasion and coercion, a skillful blend of promises and threats.
With terrifying efficiency, she had forged a true alliance, uniting the smaller worlds under the banner of the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty.
She had no illusions about the actual combat effectiveness of this alliance, but their sheer numbers would send a powerful message. It would be a display of the Sacred Dynasty's growing power and influence.
More importantly, it would prevent these smaller worlds from interfering in the war against the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
"Where is Senior Sister Lin Ling?" Ou Shangtian asked, looking around. "I haven't seen her recently."
Sun Erlang's answer was vague. "Master has assigned her a special task. I don't know the specifics, but I'm sure she'll join us for the main event."
The disciples turned their attention back to the map, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Deep within a secret realm of the Sacred Dynasty, within a training ground - or perhaps it was more accurate to call it a school – specifically designed for him, Immortal Master Yin scratched his head, shoving his true self Dao Foundation back into the crack in his skull. It kept trying to emerge, as if eager to witness what was unfolding.
"Are we… are we sure about this?" he asked, uncertainty tinging his voice.
"My Foundation Establishment method, that's perfect. Flawless. But the Primordial Golden Core section… I only managed to deduce half of it. And everything after that… well, it's all smoke and mirrors. Impressive at first glance, but… one poke, and it all falls apart. It wouldn't hold up to scrutiny."
The Sacred Emperor, Li Ping, was seated at a wooden table, his attention focused on a phantom text that shimmered before him. He was editing it, refining it, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Around him, a breathtaking celestial phenomenon unfolded – a swirling vortex of starlight and nebulae, twisting and distorting the very fabric of space. A side effect of his recent enlightenment.
Immortal Master Yin forced his gaze away from the mesmerizing spectacle.
After a while, the Sacred Emperor finished reviewing the phantom text, flipping back to the first page and resuming his editing.
He finally spoke, his voice calm and measured. "There's a saying, 'When the real is made to appear fake, the fake becomes real.' If we can convince the cultivators of the world that this is a legitimate path, a new cultivation system independent of the Legacy Transmission System… a 'New New Law'…"
"Even if it only lasts for a few days… it will be enough."
"Besides," he added, a sly smile touching his lips, "given how abstruse and convoluted this new system is, how completely it contradicts the established methods… how long do you think it will take them to determine its authenticity?"
He continued editing the phantom text, his hand moving as if wielding a brush, each stroke precise and deliberate.
Immortal Master Yin didn't reply, simply repeating the phrase, "When the real is made to appear fake, the fake becomes real."
Then, his eyes widened, and a grin spread across his face. "Ah, I see! Because there's never been a 'New New Law' before, once we release it, and they confirm the authenticity of the Foundation Establishment method… which is the easiest to verify… they'll naturally assume the rest of the system is genuine as well."
"And my endless revisions," the Sacred Emperor chuckled, "are simply to enhance the illusion. To make the deception even more convincing."
"But what's the point?" Immortal Master Yin scratched his head, still not fully convinced. "This won't affect the Legacy Transmission System in any meaningful way."
"The two systems… the Legacy Transmission System and this New New Law… they are incompatible. To practice this new system, one would have to abandon their current path, start anew. Very few will choose to do so, but those who do… well, it's one less cultivator for them, one more for us."
"But there's another, more important reason."
The Sacred Emperor finished his final edit.
He closed the phantom text, placing both hands upon its cover. Swirling starlight danced across the surface.
Then, in the span of a breath, the phantom text, previously a mere illusion, solidified.
It was now a real book.
The Sacred Emperor handed the book, the "New New Law," to Immortal Master Yin. He stood up, his expression serious. "The most important reason for releasing this new system… is that it will force their hand. The Alliance will be powerless to stop us. And he…"
"Legacy Transmission himself will be forced to return."
Immortal Master Yin's eyes widened, a flicker of understanding dawning.
"This… this is what they call 'attacking what they must defend.'"
He nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the book in his hands.
"Are you… confident you can face him?" he finally asked, hesitation lacing his voice.
The Sacred Emperor paused, considering his words. Then he said, his voice calm, his gaze steady, "It's a gamble. But one I must take."
(End of Chapter)