"On different timelines, both sides once went to war over the remains of the First Generation Dharma-Transmitter. It seems that beyond their symbolic meaning, these remains must have another purpose."
In that instant, Li Fan felt a strong urge to raid the Ten Thousand Immortal Island.
But he quickly suppressed that thought by force.
Though on the surface, Ten Thousand Immortal Island in the Congyun Sea seemed a remote region, its strongest resident cultivators only at the Soul Transformation Realm, existences that Li Fan could now easily suppress with a wave of his hand—there was more to it.
Beneath Ten Thousand Immortal Island lay the Nether Passage, said to be the possible source of this Xuanhuang Realm's strange anomalies.
And Gongsun Qixuan, the supervisor from the Tianji Hall responsible for monitoring the anomalies, was certainly not as simple as he appeared to be.
To dig beneath the eyes of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance…
"Actually, it's not impossible. As long as I stir the waters once more."
"But there's still something strange. If they wanted the remains, why not just dig them directly from Ten Thousand Immortal Island? Why insist on taking the batch seized by the Five Elders Association?"
Combien d'années vous reste-t-il à vivre : la réponse se trouve dSuiteA trace of doubt flashed through Li Fan's mind.
"It seems I'll need to contact Mo Rubin as soon as possible."
The scene then shifted—to Li Fan's clone, Li Qing, within the Five Elders Association.
"The remains? The Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance made such a grand move just for those?" Li Qing voiced the same question as his true self.
"Yes." Qing Yang once again confirmed.
"In the Soul-Grinding Plate, there are fifty-six fragmented souls and one hundred and three sets of remains."
"However, after so many years of torment, they've already gone completely insane. They should have lost all value." Qing Yang gave Li Qing a glance, as if intentionally or not.
Li Qing's face showed no change. He pretended to ponder for a moment, then said, "Since you're being so forthright, I'll also be direct."
"All thirty-three Chosen Immortal have died. The Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance won't be able to summon the Immortal Ancestor's Manifestation again anytime soon."
"Moreover, the previous batch of Chosen Immortal Candidates was chosen through the massive public trials of the Alliance Grand Examination. To recruit replacements will take time. That gap might just be your window to strike back." Li Qing didn't say too much—just quietly sowed a seed of discord.
Upon hearing this, Qing Yang remained outwardly calm, but the flicker in her eyes betrayed the shock within.
"I wonder when the Five Heavenly Sovereigns will fully recover their power?" Li Qing seized the chance to ask.
Qing Yang shook her head and refused to speak.
"A pity," Li Qing sighed softly. "I was hoping to renew my acquaintance with One-Heart Heavenly Sovereign."
Qing Yang's eyes suddenly sharpened, her killing intent almost tangible.
Unfazed, Li Qing cupped his hands slightly. "My mission is complete. I'll take my leave."
"Hopefully, we'll have a chance to work together again in the future."
Li Qing turned to leave, and Qing Yang did not stop him.
Before departing, they exchanged a new contact method. Then Li Qing transformed into a streak of sword light and vanished into the sky.
"Milord, that one's behavior is suspicious. You're just letting him go?" A shadowy figure emerged behind Qing Yang, speaking in a low tone.
"Although his strength isn't weak, I could easily keep him here if I wished."
Qing Yang's gaze lingered on the distant sky. Only after the last trace of sword light faded did she speak softly, "He is not our enemy. For now, let him be."
"How goes the Poison Seed Project?"
The shadow answered in a grave voice, "Still no contact. The Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance seems to have captured our people. Their whereabouts are unknown."
"Keep tracking them," Qing Yang said, her eyes glinting coldly.
"Since they dared to extend their hand, they must be prepared to have it severed."
"Yes!" The shadow's tone carried a hint of excitement.
…
Li Qing did not know what had happened after he left.
However, he could faintly sense a trace of malice lingering around him, belonging to that shadowy presence.
Because of that, he did not linger. After obtaining the result he wanted, he left the territory of the Five Elders Association.
But on his way back, he happened to witness a scene that deeply shocked him.
Amid the vast ruins that the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance had nearly razed to the ground, a group of cultivators appeared, each wearing a set of radiant, flowing battle armor.
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They hovered in midair, and from the heads of their armor, beams of light projected downward, forming the phantom outlines of buildings upon the land.
As the light beams grew brighter and more solid, those once-illusory structures gradually became real, shifting from illusion to substance.
Within less than half a cup of tea's time, the group of cultivators had effortlessly conjured an entire city out of thin air.
"Task complete. Let's see the reward this time."
"This is way too stingy... whatever, on to the next one."
They muttered as they flew off one after another.
"How interesting." Li Qing narrowed his eyes slightly.
The cultivators from the Carefree Paradise seemed entirely different from those of the outside world, both in their conduct and their way of handling matters.
And their level of advancement appeared to far surpass that of other regions under the Five Elders Association.
"If they can rebuild the city, what about those who were taken by the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance?"
"Could they also recreate them out of thin air?"
Curiosity stirred within him. After receiving approval from his true body, Li Qing began secretly observing near the newly built city.
He did not have to wait long.
Six days later, another group of cultivators in radiant battle armor appeared.
They were escorting a massive warship, which hovered above the city.
A gigantic beam of light descended from the ship, enveloping the city below.
Bodies, apparently slumbering—slowly drifted down along the light beam, landing in various parts of the city.
Before long, the once-empty city was filled once more with people.
After the warship completed its task and departed, the sleeping inhabitants gradually awakened.
Yet they seemed completely unaware of what had occurred earlier. It was as if they had been revived from a frozen state, immediately resuming whatever they had been doing before.
In an instant, the city was once again bustling with life and sound.
Li Qing infiltrated the city in secret, controlling one of the residents to examine the situation carefully.
He discovered that these people were indeed real living beings, not mere illusions or constructs.
"This method..."
Li Qing's expression turned grave.
This war—the Five Elders Association seemed to have lost it.
Yet, in a sense, it felt like they had not truly lost at all.
With newfound anticipation for what might follow, Li Qing turned into a streak of sword light and departed.
...
Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, Guangyang Prefecture.
The Holy Embryo Li Fan was playing Go under a willow tree with a disheveled old man before him.
Li Fan appeared perfectly at ease, while the old man had to ponder for a long time before making each move.
No matter how the old man struggled, he ultimately lost the game.
"Not playing anymore!"
"You brat, there's something wrong with you!"
The old man snorted, flipping the board in frustration.
Yet strangely enough, the scattered black and white Go pieces did not fall to the ground. Instead, they seemed to be drawn back by the board itself.
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They returned neatly to their positions, and the board righted itself, landing once more in front of the old man.
"Damn it all..."
The old man could not help but curse under his breath.
Li Fan, however, was long accustomed to such sights.
This was already the nine hundred and ninety-ninth game between the two of them.