Chapter 1060: The Counterattack Finally Begins
Li Fan’s gaze remained fixed on the phantom of the Xuantian King.
At this point in time, Xuanyuan Hong’s demeanor was hardly different from that of any other ordinary cultivator.
Had it not been for the fragmented memories of Ji Yuzhen, which had already given him some understanding of the Xuantian King, Li Fan would never have believed it. He would never have imagined that this seemingly ordinary man would one day become the central figure of an entire era, his influence on the Xuanhuang Realm persisting even to this day.
The scene recorded in the stone stele did not last long.
It vanished abruptly, just as host and guests were thoroughly enjoying themselves in cheerful camaraderie.
Although this first image recovered from the crimson river held little intrinsic value, it was undeniably a promising start. It marked a breakthrough for the Federation of All Worlds' "Seeking" initiative.
As the saying goes, the first step is always the hardest. Now that they had succeeded once, the second and third successes were sure to follow quickly.
As the high envoy, Li Fan's true self did not personally appear to bestow the reward.
Instead, he gave the red rope to his clone, Li Qing, to present on his behalf.
Having consumed a great deal of his lifespan in the crimson river, Ji Ling, though only twenty-three, already appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.
However, after switching to the true Soul Transformation technique taught by Li Qing, he would have the chance to advance from the Nascent Soul stage and thus gain a longer life.
At that moment, his heart surging with emotion, Ji Ling stood before a stone stele bearing his name and shared his experiences exploring the crimson river with the teeming crowd of over a thousand Seeking cultivators below.
Watching those who were once his superiors—nobler in birth and higher in cultivation—now listening to his every word with rapt attention, Ji Ling felt a sense of accomplishment that was simply indescribable.
"If not for the grace of the Red Dust Compassionate Immortal, how could a humble mortal like me ever receive such a blessing?"
An endless wave of emotion washed over Ji Ling, and his faith in the Compassionate Immortal deepened, reaching a new height.
From the shadows, Li Fan watched the entire scene unfold and allowed himself a faint smile.
...
Once the Federation of All Worlds was on track, it began to develop with astonishing speed, far beyond anyone's imagination.
Meanwhile, Dharma Transmitter Zhou did not keep Li Fan waiting long; news arrived soon enough.
"It's been verified," Zhou declared, his voice tight with fury, his teeth clenched. "Of the five Dharma Transmitters who hold the highest power in the Immortal Alliance, three are vile practitioners of the Xuantian Sect's techniques!"
"As for the other two, Chen and Shang, even if they haven't been possessed by those Xuantian Sect fiends, their minds have undoubtedly been corrupted. Their deaths would be no great loss!"
"It's time for us to act!"
Dharma Transmitter Zhou immediately invited Li Fan to meet and discuss the details in person.
Li Fan, who had been waiting for this moment, readily agreed.
With a mere thought, Tianyang reverted from his armor form to his appearance as a cultivator.
He retained the appearance of the young boy he was before his death, not bothering to alter his form.
When the pair arrived once more in Dharma Transmitter Zhou's private world, the eyes of the two Dharma Transmitters fell on Tianyang in unison.
"And this is...?"
At a signal from Li Fan, Tianyang did not restrain his aura. Instead, he deliberately emanated the formidable presence of a Longevity stage warrior. The display was so potent that the two Dharma Transmitters immediately recognized his extraordinary power.
They didn't dare show the slightest contempt because of his childlike appearance.
After all, it wasn't just Longevity stage experts; even among their own ranks, there were plenty of individuals with peculiar eccentricities.
"This is Elder Tian of our Federation of All Worlds," Li Fan introduced with a serious expression. "He is responsible for assisting in matters related to the capture of Mo Rubin and other Xuantian Sect remnants."
Tianyang, for his part, played the role of an arrogant Longevity expert perfectly, offering only a cold snort in acknowledgment.
He didn't even deign to look directly at Dharma Transmitters Zhou and Wei.
Although Tianyang's display of Longevity-stage power was undeniable, Zhou and Wei had, after all, once stood at the pinnacle of power in the Immortal Alliance—and by extension, the entire Xuanhuang Realm. To be treated with such disdain inevitably stung their pride.
They dared not show their displeasure openly. Instead, they exchanged a look, and a plan formed between them.
"We can use this opportunity to test his strength."
"Indeed. A powerful aura alone isn't enough to truly prove he's at the Longevity stage."
Zhou and Wei exchanged a glance, and then Zhou spoke up with a suggestion.
"Recently, we were fortunate enough to locate another of our former colleagues who left the Dharma Transmitter Council. Perhaps we can persuade him to join our cause."
"However, his temperament is... peculiar. When he flies into a rage, he'll attack anyone, friend or foe. He has even been known to lose control and strike at Jiang. The two of us alone may not be enough to persuade him. But if Senior Tian were to lend a hand..."
Li Fan instantly understood their little scheme.
But it was understandable.
They prided themselves on their intimate knowledge of the Xuanhuang Realm, so for a Longevity stage expert they had never even heard of to suddenly appear... it was something anyone would find difficult to accept at a moment's notice.
Li Fan pretended to consult with Tianyang for a moment before nodding his agreement.
There was no time to waste. Zhou and Wei immediately led the way to find the third Dharma Transmitter.
On the way, they provided Li Fan with a detailed introduction. "His name is Huang. He was born deformed, with two heads and four arms. His own parents abandoned him by the roadside, and just as he was about to starve to death, he had the good fortune to be found by the Dharma Propagation Heavenly Venerate. From that day on, he became one of the most loyal Dharma Transmitters."
"He cultivates a special technique taught by the Heavenly Venerate, one that has tempered his physical body to its absolute peak. In a fight, relying on brute strength alone, he can tear an ordinary Dao Integration cultivator limb from limb."
"Furthermore, his madness is just an act. No matter the situation, Huang remains in a state of absolute, rational calm. His unhinged persona is a tactic, a way to intimidate his opponents before a fight even begins."
"And it has proven to be a very effective tactic. Over the years, most members of the Dharma Transmitter Council have learned not to provoke him. Even if they are unlucky enough to be targeted, they usually just grit their teeth and endure it until he moves on."
...
It seemed even Zhou and Wei were somewhat intimidated by Huang, as their introduction was exceptionally detailed.
Time slipped by as they talked, and they drew ever closer to their destination.
Upon reaching Quyang Province, the air around them grew progressively hotter.
Volatile fire-attribute energy surged through the air, erupting without pattern or warning.
Every so often, a massive fireball would plummet from the sky, crashing to the earth with a deafening roar and unleashing towering waves of lava.
"This place is..."
"The Ten Thousand Miles Flame Beach?"
In his 114th life, he had been here, in the depths of the Spirit Transformation Gorge, to assist in the construction of the Heavenly Profound Spirit Locking Array.
"Could it be..."
He recalled the disquieting green river within the gorge, a current capable of suppressing all spiritual energy, and a suspicion surfaced in his mind.
And as it turned out, his suspicion was correct.
After crossing the Ten Thousand Miles Flame Beach, the three of them arrived above the Spirit Transformation Gorge.
The Immortal Alliance cultivators mining Spirit Transformation Stones in the area remained completely oblivious to their arrival.
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