Chapter 1113: Hiding Alone in the Gloomy Prison
However, Li Fan was quite confident that neither the Transmitters nor Rebirth would be able to find him.
First, there were the countless concealment formations on that True Immortal puppet, so intricate they seemed to surpass even the Reversing Life and Death Grand Array. In this world, no one had ever been to that frozen sea of death before, yet the True Immortal’s remains had managed to pinpoint its location with precision. This alone was enough to make Rebirth deeply suspicious.
"Logically, he should focus his investigation on any old acquaintances who might still exist," Li Fan reasoned. "Even if he wanted to investigate me, there would be no leads to follow. The only flaw is that the True Immortal puppet was moved using the power of the Gloomy Realm. And besides the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, I, from the Federation of All Worlds, am the only other one who has ever been to the Gloomy Realm..."
A chill ran down Li Fan's spine at the thought. At the level of a Transmitter Heavenly Venerate, one no longer needed evidence to make "inferences." The slightest possibility was enough for him to make a decision.
"I've just reviewed the situation, and there are very few factions in the entire Xuanhuang Realm capable of pulling this off. Putting myself in their shoes, if they simply eliminate all of them, they can prevent any future trouble... It may seem irrational, but that is the way of a hegemon."
As his thoughts raced, Li Fan's heart gave a sudden, heavy thud. He made his decision almost instantly.
In the Spirit Wood Realm, all defensive formations were activated at full power. All cultivators of the Federation of All Worlds were placed on high alert, ready for battle at a moment's notice. He summoned the key figures from the Tianji Realm, the Medicine King Sect, the Empire Small World, and others, explaining the gravity of the crisis.
Master Qiaogong, Liu Ruchen, and the others all paled slightly. "That's completely unreasonable! Just because we have the strength to kill a Transmitter, and they can't find the real culprit, they're going to destroy us all?" someone asked in disbelief. "Are you being a bit too pessimistic, my lord? The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance... I don't think they'd act so rashly, would they?"
"Through a plea to the Compassionate Immortal of the Mortal World for protection, I have all but confirmed it," Li Fan declared coldly. "There is no need for doubt. Just make your preparations. In this war, there will be no room for compromise."
Upon hearing this, their faces turned ashen.
"Our only chance of survival is if our resistance is strong enough. They will march on us seeking revenge for three Transmitters. But if we can inflict losses greater than just three fallen Transmitters... they will be forced to reconsider," Li Fan continued, rallying them.
"The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance may be powerful, but it's impossible for them to attack us with their full strength. Furthermore, we have the advantage of terrain. The Spirit Wood Realm is as impregnable as a fortress, covered by countless formations and protected by the barrier of the Tianji Realm. Finally, we can also call upon the power of the Gloomy Realm and launch a surprise attack on the enemy with a tide of darkness..."
Li Fan announced, full of confidence, "As long as we can withstand the first few, most ferocious waves of attack, we should be able to weather this crisis."
Despite Li Fan's words, no optimism could be seen on their faces. They all departed with heavy hearts to begin their pre-war mobilization.
The Spirit Wood Realm was now completely sealed. Even if they entertained thoughts of escape, there was nowhere to run. Only a fight to the death remained.
Meanwhile, as for Li Fan...
In an underground chamber.
A sacred embryo, identical to Li Fan in every way, was rapidly taking form. After using the divine power of the Compassionate Immortal of the Mortal World to forcibly raise the sacred embryo to the Nascent Soul stage, the embryo left the chamber and donned the Tianyang War Puppet.
As for Li Fan himself...
...he took nothing with him and slipped out of the Spirit Wood Realm, completely unnoticed.
Knowing the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance was coming to attack the Spirit Wood Realm, why would Li Fan's true self stay behind to fight them to the death?
To Li Fan, the Federation of All Worlds, the Spirit Wood Realm, the Tianji Realm, the Medicine King Sect... were all merely external assets, disposable at any moment. Only his own safety was of paramount importance.
As long as he could preserve his own life and ride out this storm, then later, when the Transmitters and Rebirth eventually lowered their guard, he would unleash his world-ending plan. After using [Truth] to reset everything, all that he had lost would ultimately return to his grasp.
With Li Fan's current skills in concealment, he traveled swiftly after leaving the Spirit Wood Realm, and his movements went entirely undetected from start to finish.
And Li Fan had long ago decided on a hiding place for the coming days.
"As they say, it's darkest under the lamp. The most dangerous place is the safest place."
Before long, he arrived at his destination.
It was none other than the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's Gloomy Prison—the very place from which he had rescued Transmitter Wei!
"Heh, I suppose you could call this walking right into the lion's den," Li Fan mocked himself with an inward smile.
"But this so-called prison net can't hold me."
After a careful observation, Li Fan had already deciphered the formation covering the entrance to the Gloomy Prison.
Transforming into a faint, obscure shadow, he slipped inside.
The scene before him abruptly darkened.
It was somewhat similar to the scenery of the Gloomy Realm.
There was no heaven or earth, only endless darkness as far as the eye could see.
But compared to the absolute, all-consuming blackness of the Gloomy Realm, there was at least a sliver of light here.
At the very least, his spiritual sense could faintly discern a path forward, preventing him from becoming completely lost.
Within the endless, dark space stood towering pillars, each one a cage. And within every pillar, a prisoner seemed to be suppressed. On the surface of the pillars, images of horrific tortures flickered and changed continuously.
As for the jailers of this Gloomy Prison, they were ferocious monsters formed from an unknown, black-mist-like substance that drifted through the void. They numbered in the thousands, far outnumbering the towering pillars in the space. From time to time, they would let out piercing shrieks and fly into the pillars that held prisoners. Soon after, faint screams of agony would begin to echo from within the cages. Only after a long period of torture would these black-mist monsters depart from the pillars, seemingly satisfied.
Similar scenes played out endlessly throughout the Gloomy Prison, as if time had no meaning.
...
Li Fan watched this infernal scene unfold, his expression unchanging.
He examined the composition of the cage-pillars and determined they were constructed from some kind of formation. With a flicker in his eyes, he deciphered it almost instantly. Then, choosing an empty one, he slipped inside of his own accord.
"Not bad."
Once inside the black pillar, Li Fan looked around and found that it was actually brighter inside the cage than it was outside. The only drawback was the constant barrage of formation attacks that fell as a means of punishment. Of course, they couldn't harm Li Fan.
"They could turn the entire Xuanhuang Realm upside down and still never imagine I'm hiding in here. And when they've forgotten all about me, that will be my time to leave."
As if he had returned home, Li Fan comfortably settled into his new residence in the Gloomy Prison. To him, there was no essential difference between the Spirit Wood Realm and the Gloomy Prison.
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