As if a genuine Ascension Platform from ancient times had reappeared, a sacred aura emanated from the octagonal structure. Everyone present felt a jolt, their attention instinctively drawn to it, even without knowing what it was. An irresistible force seemed to hold their gazes captive.
Even Qian Ruochang, the creator of the platform, was momentarily mesmerized. However, as someone tasked with capturing the "Nothingness" Immortal, he quickly recovered. He first connected the miniature octagonal platform to the localized Dao Net that accompanied them.
Once the platform's image shifted from solid to ethereal, Qian Ruochang produced a blood-red sphere of light. The crimson within seemed constrained by some force, constantly battering against invisible boundaries, unable to escape. Li Fan could faintly hear furious roars emanating from within.
Unfazed, Qian Ruochang extended two fingers in a sword gesture and pierced the sphere. Li Fan sensed a sudden turbulence within the localized Dao Net. Newly created and not yet stable, it felt momentarily precarious. Clearly, Qian Ruochang wasn't relying solely on his own power, but drawing heavily upon the Dao Net.
"Focus, everyone! Quickly help Boss Qian stabilize the situation!"
Li Fan, eager to witness Qian Ruochang's method of luring He Gan Xian, saw that the new Immortal Hunters were still captivated by the Ascension Platform, so he called out a reminder.
They snapped out of their trance, reluctantly tearing their gazes away. Most then focused on maintaining the localized Dao Net, though some still occasionally glanced at the platform, their yearning evident. These distracted individuals weren't the mediocre ones, but the most promising, like Jin Changyue and Dao Yuan.
"It seems even within the Dao Net, the allure of ascension is irresistible to mortals," Li Fan realized.
With everyone's assistance, the fluctuating localized Dao Net gradually stabilized. Qian Ruochang withdrew his fingers from the crimson sphere, their tips now stained a bright scarlet.
As if reaching a crucial step, Qian Ruochang erected a barrier around himself to prevent interruptions. Li Fan sensed that he was now utilizing almost all of the localized Dao Net's power.
"Boom! Boom!"
Amidst gasps, Qian Ruochang's burly body erupted in bursts of flesh, revealing bone. This was the result of exceeding his physical limits.
To everyone's astonishment, including Li Fan's, Qian Ruochang's bones weren't ordinary human bones. They radiated a seven-colored crystalline light, intangible, as if constructed entirely from Dao Net strings!
Empowered by the Dao Net, his dissipated flesh quickly regenerated, concealing the Dao string bones. Ignoring everyone's reactions, Qian Ruochang used his crimson-stained fingertips as ink and his fingers as a brush, writing in the air above the octagonal Ascension Platform.
The content seemed confidential. Even after his Dao string bones had been exposed, Qian Ruochang remained unconcerned, but he treated these written symbols with extreme care. He diverted power from the surrounding Dao Net barrier to create a hazy curtain, obscuring everyone's view.
Disappointed at missing the crucial moment, the new Immortal Hunters sighed.
However… While most of the localized Dao Net's power was used for writing the characters, and the barrier could deceive the young Immortal Hunters and even Li Fan's divine sense avatar, it couldn't hide from the vast consciousness of the Blissful Ignorance Dreamland in this location.
Like a god looking down, it pierced through the barrier, clearly observing the scene within.
"This is…"
"Very similar to the 'Transformation of Immortal and Mortal' character, but diverging at several key points."
Strictly speaking, the Dao Net's concealment method was indeed extraordinary. Even the localized Dao Net far surpassed the power of Li Fan's Dreamland Paradise, built upon the foundation of the Xuanhuang beings.
However, Li Fan was one of the creators of this localized Dao Net. He had a deep understanding of its structure, and his divine sense contained a miniature projection of the Great Dao. Deciphering it was naturally easier than brute-force cracking.
Without alarming anyone, Li Fan observed quietly. When the mysterious character was complete, the octagonal Ascension Platform erupted in a brilliant light. Seven-colored auspicious clouds drifted out, golden flowers rained down, and the calls of celestial birds echoed. It was the legendary scene of a cultivator ascending to immortality!
Before the spectacle faded, a familiar aura arose: a True Immortal!
A palm-sized, crimson figure, seemingly painted with Qian Ruochang's scarlet blood, flew out from the miniature Ascension Platform. Though small, Li Fan recognized it as a True Immortal! Not only did it possess the potential of an Immortal, no longer on the same level as mortals, but it also radiated Immortal spiritual Qi!
Li Fan's pupils constricted. His previous unfulfilled idea of using an Immortal Ascension Platform to connect to the Infinite Sea had actually been achieved by the Shuo Star Sea faction, and more completely than he had imagined! It wasn't just a partial attainment of immortal qualities, but a complete creation of an Immortal!
"Could it be that the Shuo Star Sea can now mass-produce Immortals?" Li Fan stared at the miniature Immortal, his mind reeling.
What was even more frightening was that Qian Ruochang's practiced movements suggested this wasn't his first time. Uncertain, Li Fan remained still, continuing to observe.
The miniature figure didn't resemble Qian Ruochang. Instead, it resembled the blurry image Li Fan had seen within the crimson sphere, the one struggling to break free. After being "created" by Qian Ruochang, it didn't move around, but sat cross-legged, eyes closed, cultivating silently.
Having successfully created an Immortal, Qian Ruochang seemed relieved. The crimson on his fingertips faded the moment the miniature Immortal appeared. The octagonal Ascension Platform, having served its purpose, crumbled to dust.
Qian Ruochang looked regretful, but powerless to stop it. He bowed respectfully to the miniature Immortal, which, as if sentient, flew directly into his body. Qian Ruochang's Dao string bones, being vessels of the Great Dao, allowed his mortal body to accommodate a True Immortal!
After adjusting to the new power within him, Qian Ruochang dispelled the barrier, revealing himself. Only a few of the young Immortal Hunters noticed the change in him, appearing somewhat apprehensive. However, they knew better than to ask unnecessary questions, patiently awaiting his instructions.
"The bait and the net are ready. Now, the hunt begins."
"Are you prepared?"
As he spoke, Qian Ruochang casually swung the pillar he had been carrying on his shoulder, as if it were a light wooden stick, leaving the Immortal Hunters dumbfounded. They instinctively replied in unison, "We will slay the True Immortal!"
Qian Ruochang nodded in satisfaction. Glancing at the circular life-filled region, he murmured, "This will be where the Nothingness Immortal falls into our trap."
With that, he swept the giant pillar across the space before him. Though the pillar remained in his hand, invisible waves of destruction spread through the small life-filled area, instantly obliterating the remaining floating ruins. The waves continued along the narrow passage outside the circular region, far into the Obliterated Lands, their final destination unknown.
It was like ripples spreading through the Star Sea after a stone had been thrown into it. Ordinary people wouldn't notice anything unusual, perceiving only powerful, abnormal energy fluctuations. However, those who had reached the Immortal realm, like Li Fan, could glean much information from these ripples, including the identity of the True Immortal who caused them, their location, and their motive.
Although Li Fan wasn't a true Immortal who had ascended through an Immortal Ascension Platform, as a Half-Immortal, he could still decipher the information.
"Qiong Qu Star Region, Guardian Immortal Official..."
"Obtained a World Crossing Profound Coffin, intends to escape to another world."
"Nearby Immortal friends, come quickly..."
Li Fan pondered the message, a strange expression appearing on his face. The trap seemed rather crude. With such a wide broadcast, how could they be sure that He Gan Xian would be the one to take the bait? Moreover, He Gan Xian had survived countless calamities and was extremely cautious. Could such a simple ruse really deceive him?
Li Fan was deeply skeptical.
Unless...
"This miniature Immortal, this so-called Guardian Immortal Official of the Qiong Qu Star Region, is an old acquaintance of He Gan Xian!"
"And he hasn't been captured by the Immortal Hunters for long, so He Gan Xian is unaware of it."
"Furthermore…"
Recalling how the Absence and Barbarian Immortals had escaped with the World Crossing Profound Coffin, this Guardian Immortal Official might have infiltrated the vicinity of the Shuo Star Sea precisely for that coffin!
"That means Qian Ruochang must be carrying a real World Crossing Profound Coffin."
"It's a trap, but not entirely a trap."
"If He Gan Xian is capable enough to eliminate everyone here, he can naturally obtain the coffin."
"And that miniature Immortal…"
Li Fan observed subtle changes in Qian Ruochang's demeanor, different from before. Although negligible under normal circumstances, Li Fan was certain it was due to the miniature Immortal's influence.
"To activate the power of an Ascension Platform, one needs the corresponding True Immortal Seal Character, like the 'Transformation of Immortal and Mortal' and the one Qian Ruochang just wrote. Perhaps it even requires a specific True Immortal to write it for it to be effective."
"Guardian Immortal Official…"
"The Shuo Star Sea has mastered the method of replicating True Immortal identities using their blood essence, even deceiving the Infinite Sea's authentication process."
Li Fan recalled the character, analyzing its potential usability on the stone tablet left by Heavenly King Xuan.
After the True Immortal ripples were sent out, there was no response. However, Qian Ruochang seemed certain that the "Nothingness" Immortal would take the bait, calmly issuing a series of commands to the new recruits.
As commands were activated, they hid within the localized Dao Net, concealed by Qian Ruochang with immortal spiritual Qi. Even with the power of the Dreamland, Li Fan could barely detect their presence.
The World Demise arrows were distributed, merging into their bodies, ready to be unleashed. The Dao string connecting the localized Dao Net to the main Net was severed. Despite losing the support of the Shuo Star Sea's main Dao Net, Li Fan, within the localized Net, didn't feel any weakening of its power. This was likely due to Qian Ruochang, with his Dao string bones, presiding at the center of the localized Net.
"It seems bringing us along for this hunt is completely unnecessary."
"With Qian Ruochang's current strength, he can fight He Gan Xian head-on. There's no need for us to intervene…"
"Or perhaps, these young Immortal Hunters have another purpose."
The events of the training flashed through Li Fan's mind. He pondered the possibilities.
Meanwhile, in the void of the circular life-filled region, Qian Ruochang produced a Profound Coffin identical to the one they had encountered during their first mission. He stared at it for a long time, then tapped the lid gently and jumped inside, lying down. However, he didn't close the lid completely, leaving a small gap.
The new Immortal Hunters, concealed within the Dao Net, patiently waited for their prey. Within the Obliterated Lands, there were no other living beings in this star region besides them.
Time passed silently in the stillness. Suddenly, someone sensed a faint tremor in the calm Dao Net strings. Looking closer, it seemed like an illusion. The Dao Net remained empty.
"It's not an illusion."
"Someone is coming," Dao Yuan said gravely, a mixture of tension and excitement in his voice. Since the initial tremor, the Nothingness Immortal had left no trace. They didn't even know if he was still within the localized Dao Net.
Compared to the invisible and inaudible Absence and Barbarian Immortals, this Nothingness Immortal was even more enigmatic.
Just as they were at a loss, a faint, sacred chant emanated from the Profound Coffin. It was the same chant they had heard when the Absence and Barbarian Immortals escaped. However, last time they had observed from afar. This time, Qian Ruochang was inside the coffin, within the same Dao Net. They heard it much more clearly.
Gradually, their expressions as they looked at the coffin changed subtly. Their vision split into two: on the left, a catastrophic world-ending disaster; on the right, a new, beautiful world free from worries. The stark contrast inevitably gave rise to the urge to hide within the coffin and escape the calamity.
(End of chapter)