After consuming the red soup, the three Sword Domain disciples' expressions shifted dramatically.
Clearly, not everyone could enjoy the essence of myriad desires like Li Fan.
Ji Xingdao's eyes widened, his aura fluctuating wildly.
Situ Tiantian's brow furrowed, her face cold as frost, surrounded by swirling snowflakes that, upon closer inspection, resembled tiny swords.
Zhao Xing fared the best. Her face briefly flushed, as if she had consumed a fiery liquor, then quickly returned to normal.
Unconcerned by their reactions, Scholar Zhu descended from his seat, his hunched form within his robes lengthening with a series of unsettling cracks and pops.
A mournful, feminine voice filled the air.
"Within the blissful halls of Nícháng Yǔyī, feasts of fine wine and jade cups stretch on. Drums and music fill the air as dancers twirl, and the night is young amidst the glittering lights..."
"Exquisite robes and a paradise of bliss, golden goblets and a feast everlasting. Drums and music fill the air with dance, lanterns dim as the night extends its trance…"
Scholar Zhu sang softly, dancing as he moved.
Li Fan watched intently, his gaze fixed on the swaying, obscured figure.
As the song continued, the mansion's doors seemed to swing open, the once silent space erupting in a cacophony of voices from Supreme Bliss City.
Li Fan saw fleeting glimpses of the city's inhabitants: laughter, indulgence, fighting, lust, pleasure, intoxication, joy.
"Supreme Bliss City, supreme bliss."
But everything changed with a sudden shift in Scholar Zhu's tone.
"Joy turns to sorrow, a common tale of the world, where sword fights end in rivers of blood. Ghostly shadows and wailing spirits arise, their skulls used as bricks, their bones as beams..."
"Bliss turns to sorrow, a twist of fate, blades flash, blood flows, a gruesome state. Ghouls and ghosts rise in shadows deep, skulls piled high as foundations sleep…"
His voice turned chilling, filled with killing intent.
A sharp clang, like a sword striking stone, jolted the city's inhabitants from their blissful dream.
The lights extinguished, plunging Supreme Bliss City into darkness.
But the darkness didn't last.
A blood-red sun rose slowly, casting a crimson glow upon the city.
The slaughter began.
Lovers turned on each other, friends became foes.
Friendship, family, love—all became meaningless.
Only survival mattered.
…
"Die! Die! Die!"
"Kill!"
"Aaah!"
Screams and the sounds of carnage echoed through the mansion like a symphony of violence.
Scholar Zhu, now a hunched old man again, watched with relish.
The three Sword Domain disciples, recovering from the red soup's effects, paled at the horrifying display of human depravity.
Li Fan also feigned discomfort.
"It's a pity more didn't come to witness this magnificent spectacle."
"Only you youngsters."
Scholar Zhu's voice was laced with a strange melancholy.
But the slaughter continued unabated.
"Let's not bore ourselves and lose face," he said, his voice like a devil's whisper.
Another change swept through Supreme Bliss City.
Those killed were reborn, not as living beings, but as formless ghosts.
They had two choices: take revenge on their killers, their ghostly forms dissipating in the process, or possess a survivor, their combined strength increasing the chances of vengeance. However, the possessed, upon being killed, would also become a ghost.
Ghosts could attack each other, but only to mutual destruction. Therefore, most chose to possess other survivors.
Gradually, only ghost-possessed survivors remained in Supreme Bliss City.
Defeated possessed survivors wouldn't create new ghosts, their possessing spirits vanishing along with them.
The slaughter neared its end.
When only one hundred survivors remained, the possessed became aware of their ghostly companions.
They could choose coexistence or engage in a battle of wills.
Those who defeated their possessing ghosts absorbed their power.
"What do you think," Scholar Zhu suddenly asked, "will there be more humans or ghosts remaining?"
"There will be ten victors in this Ceremony. You four will each receive a fruit. If you guess correctly, I'll reward you with another."
The three Sword Domain disciples' eyes lit up, their previous apprehension forgotten.
"I'm certain there will be more ghosts," Situ Tiantian declared confidently.
The other two also made their guesses, some choosing ghosts, some humans.
When it was Li Fan's turn, he pondered, then replied, "I believe there will be an equal number of humans and ghosts among the ten victors."
The Sword Domain disciples looked at him in surprise.
Scholar Zhu gave him a knowing look but didn't comment.
As the sun reached its zenith, the carnage in Supreme Bliss City continued.
Those who survived the initial slaughter had gained experience, resorting to stealth and ambush tactics, slowing the pace of the killing.
But the shrinking city forced them into closer proximity, accelerating the game once more.
The repetitive violence became monotonous. Even the most gruesome scenes lost their impact.
The Sword Domain disciples grew numb, their faces impassive, even bored.
Only Li Fan continued to observe intently, analyzing each survivor's choices and actions in the face of life and death.
True to the three-year cycle, the slaughter continued for exactly three years. A mysterious force seemed to be controlling the game's progress.
During those three years, the Sword Domain disciples consumed countless bowls of red soup, now drinking it like water, without any effect.
Li Fan wasn't so fortunate. He only received six bowls in the first year, then Scholar Zhu deliberately ignored him.
Li Fan knew he was gradually increasing the disciples' tolerance to prepare them for consuming the fruits, preventing them from becoming mindless from the overwhelming killing intent within.
After all, he had to show some consideration for the Sword Domain.
As for "Ma Tiande"…
His fate was his own.
The three years ended. The blood-red sun set.
The last remaining section of Supreme Bliss City plunged into darkness.
Time seemed to freeze, all survivors motionless.
Light converged, flowing towards the City Lord's Mansion.
The survivors, glowing faintly, emerged from the phantom of Supreme Bliss City.
Ghosts and humans separated.
"Five ghosts, five humans? You guessed it!" Situ Tiantian stared at Li Fan in astonishment.
The Sword Domain disciples were disappointed at losing out on additional rewards.
But Li Fan knew Scholar Zhu had saved their lives. Consuming one fruit was manageable for them. Two would be fatal.
"This Scholar Zhu is truly petty," Li Fan sneered inwardly.
Considering the precise control over the slaughter's duration, the entire process was merely a formality.
The final outcome was entirely up to Scholar Zhu.
Because Li Fan guessed an equal number of humans and ghosts, the final result would be exactly that.
"Excellent. These two fruits are yours."
The glowing survivors curled up, resembling fruits.
Scholar Zhu selected the two largest and handed them to Li Fan.
Li Fan bowed his thanks.
The Sword Domain disciples glared enviously but didn't dare complain, reluctantly consuming their single fruit.
Li Fan sensed Scholar Zhu's gaze fixed on him.
He consumed one of the fruits.
There was no taste. The Fruit of Myriad Consciousness melted instantly.
A torrent of thoughts, memories, and emotions exploded within his mind, like a devastating storm erupting from nowhere.
Li Fan's consciousness was swept away, barely clinging to existence.
"So this is 'The thoughts of myriad beings can refine even gods.'"
"If this were my true divine sense, tempered by countless reincarnations and reflecting the Great Dao, this storm wouldn't even faze me. But Ma Tiande doesn't possess such resilience…"
"Unless I utilize the Dao Net."
Hidden within the storm of consciousness, Li Fan observed Scholar Zhu, a sneer forming in his mind.
He had a plan.
"Nameless True Immortals are the pillars within the Dao Net."
"I sensed an aura very similar to Scholar Zhu's from one of the nodes…"
Li Fan's thoughts raced.
In reality, Ma Tiande's face was contorted, tears streaming down his cheeks, multiple expressions flickering across his features simultaneously. His limbs twitched uncontrollably, like a drowning man grasping for straws.
Scholar Zhu watched with relish, a hint of anticipation in his eyes as he glanced towards the sky.
A Dao Net operator's death would trigger a signal, transmitted through the Dao Net to the Governing Council.
The Shuo Star Sea contained survivors from various cultivation worlds and even different Star Seas, including former True Immortals, each with their unique and hidden methods. Only the Dao Net could bypass all defenses and transmit the status of its operators in real time.
This was how the Shuo Star Sea maintained its stability.
And it was precisely what Scholar Zhu was waiting for.
This was the true reason he wanted "Ma Tiande" dead.
However, what he expected didn't happen. The dying Dao Net operator seemed to have found something to hold onto.
Despite his contorted expression, Scholar Zhu saw that his core consciousness hadn't dissipated.
"Hmm?"
This piqued his interest.
"This is…"
He narrowed his eyes, then his expression changed drastically.
He saw within Ma Tiande's sea of consciousness, instinctively generating countless meaningless Dao Origin symbols in a desperate attempt to survive.
These symbols didn't form any valid Dao Net commands and didn't trigger any reaction within the Dao Net.
But somehow, they formed a barrier, holding back the storm generated by the Fruit of Myriad Consciousness.
"He inadvertently utilized the Dao Net's power without a proper connection?"
Scholar Zhu, with his deep understanding of the Dao Net, recognized the reason for Ma Tiande's survival.
The Dao Net was a tangible entity. Though controlled by certain individuals, they could only regulate its actions and commands, not its instinctive reactions.
After all, the Dao Net was a reflection of the Great Dao itself.
"The Dao Origin symbols triggered the Dao Net."
"Theoretically, this should have caused a reaction, but the Governing Council suppressed it."
"Out of countless combinations, he stumbled upon one that saved his life."
"Is it mere coincidence?"
Scholar Zhu remained silent, observing as Li Fan absorbed and digested the first fruit.
The storm of consciousness subsided.
Li Fan regained his senses, emerging from the confusion and pain.
Before he could assess the fruit's effects, Scholar Zhu said coldly, "Continue. There's another one."
Li Fan was taken aback by his indifference.
But he gritted his teeth and consumed the second fruit.
The storm raged again within his sea of consciousness, even stronger than before, consuming his awareness.
"Let's see if you can be so lucky again!"
This time, Scholar Zhu focused on Ma Tiande's sea of consciousness from the beginning.
As expected, as Ma Tiande struggled, losing consciousness, his instinctive actions summoned countless Dao Origin symbols.
But the combination was different this time.
"It seems your luck has run out," Scholar Zhu thought, satisfied, waiting for the storm to consume Ma Tiande completely.
But his expression quickly shifted.
Though the Dao Origin symbols didn't form a barrier this time, they transformed into another storm.
The two storms clashed, canceling each other out.
And Ma Tiande survived!
(End of chapter)