Chapter 1117: Vengeance Must Be Repaid
Chapter 1117: Vengeance Must Be Repaid
"The branch we established at the Crimson River remains undiscovered for now."
"Should we be fortunate enough to escape this alive, we can rendezvous there."
"The unique nature of the Crimson River's power should effectively block any attempts by the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance to track us," Li Fan declared, having already formulated a contingency plan. He addressed the core members of the Association, including Liu Ruchen and Daoist Baihua.
As for how the precise location of the Spirit Wood Realm had been exposed, Li Fan already had a strong suspicion.
However, now was not the time for a reckoning.
Nor did Li Fan utter the cold command to fight to the death rather than surrender.
Bound by the power of the Faceless Immortal, surrender was likely impossible for them, even if they wished it.
While the inhabitants of the Spirit Wood Realm prepared for a desperate flight, the Holy Embryo Li Fan quietly approached the statue of the Faceless Immortal.
The True Immortal's power had long since begun to reawaken, spreading through the ever-expanding network of the Association's members.
"However, there's no doubt that compared to ordinary members, It would place far more importance on Its own statue."
"I could just toss the statue out and let the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance face the True Immortal's power directly. But..."
"That's a card I can only play once, and I'm counting on It for the coming gambit against the immortals of the Immortal Ruins."
Under the steady, profound gaze of the Holy Embryo Li Fan, the faceless statue slowly began to turn transparent.
Then, it vanished completely.
The Gloomy Prison.
Li Fan watched, his expression unreadable, as the statue slowly materialized from thin air before him.
Wherever the True Immortal's network extended, Its power could flow freely.
This was, in fact, the same method he had used to bestow cultivation and knowledge upon the members of the Association.
This, however, was his first attempt at transferring a physical object.
"If I were to fully commit to the Faceless Immortal, offering myself without reservation to become Its true emissary, I could probably leverage Its immense power to transport the entire Spirit Wood Realm with a single thought," Li Fan mused, his eyes fixed on the statue.
The arrival of the True Immortal's statue caused no discernible change within the Gloomy Prison.
Hidden within, Li Fan stored the statue away and refocused his attention on the situation in the Spirit Wood Realm.
The members of the Association were hastily preparing their evacuation.
Meanwhile, the Holy Embryo Li Fan was unhurriedly laying down a formation.
Sensing a figure appear behind him, Li Fan's movements faltered for a moment.
"My lord... must you truly do this?"
The newcomer was Lin Ling, the spirit of the Spirit Wood Realm's great tree.
"Once this formation activates, everything in the Spirit Wood Realm will likely be turned to ash," Lin Ling said, her face paling as she stared at the faint silver lines now visible upon the ground.
Li Fan chuckled. "This is a strategic retreat. We can't just hand over a land as fertile as the Spirit Wood Realm to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance on a silver platter, can we? Of course it must be destroyed. But you..."
"I haven't been paying much attention lately, but your skill with formations has improved significantly. To think you can discern the purpose of the array I'm laying," Li Fan remarked, his gaze sweeping over Lin Ling.
Lin Ling pressed her lips together. "I have no such skill. I am simply one with the Spirit Wood. Faced with a crisis of life and death, I... felt it."
"Surely we will return one day? What does it matter if we cede this place to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance for now? I believe that under your leadership, my lord, that day will not be far off."
Who could have imagined that the once naive and ignorant tree spirit could now offer such gentle, persuasive words.
The Holy Embryo paused, his hands stilling in their work on the formation.
After a brief silence, Li Fan asked, "The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance located the Spirit Wood Realm far too quickly. There must be a traitor in our midst. Do you have any idea who it might be?"
Lin Ling's body trembled, and she cried out, "It wasn't me!"
Li Fan shot her a look. "If it were you, do you think you'd still be standing here talking to me, safe and sound?"
Lin Ling sagged with relief, letting out a long, exhausted sigh.
Having witnessed the Spirit Wood Realm grow from nothing over the years, and having seen Li Fan's methods firsthand, she had not an ounce of betrayal in her heart.
Compared to Li Fan, the people of the Xuanhuang Realm outside seemed almost naive.
Offending the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance was not necessarily a death sentence.
But offending Li Fan...
Wiping the cold sweat from her brow, Lin Ling thought for a moment before answering, "Actually, it isn't necessarily a traitor from our Association. The entrance to the Spirit Wood Realm is well-hidden, but not from everyone in the world."
"I, for one, know of a being who is well aware of it. And..."
Lin Ling glanced cautiously at Li Fan before continuing in a low voice, "...it seems to bear something of a grudge against you, my lord."
Li Fan's eyes narrowed. "Are you talking about the Ancient Earthvein Tree?"
Lin Ling nodded.
"When I was on good terms with it, it witnessed me coming and going from the Spirit Wood Realm frequently. We've since lost contact, but our realm's location hasn't changed. And its gaze can reach anywhere the earthveins extend..."
"More importantly, I used to be able to faintly sense the Ancient Earthvein Tree's gaze upon us. But ever since the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance launched their attack, that prying gaze has vanished. It's like a thief with a guilty conscience. If it hadn't been the one to betray our location, given our enmity, shouldn't it be gloating over our demise right now?" Lin Ling reasoned, her analysis sound.
Li Fan listened and nodded slightly.
"You've done well. We'll leave the Spirit Wood Realm intact for now." The Holy Embryo Li Fan halted his work on the formation.
"One should never underestimate how much someone can grow in a short time. Still, it would have been better if you'd spoken up sooner."
Li Fan offered, looking at Lin Ling with encouragement.
A flush of excitement colored Lin Ling's cheeks.
He sent Lin Ling off to prepare for their escape, then turned his gaze toward the world beyond the Spirit Wood Realm.
"Heh, just like its ancestors, so vengeful."
"What a coincidence," he added softly. "So am I."
Li Fan found Lin Ling's deduction sound.
After all, the entrance to the Spirit Wood Realm was exceptionally well-hidden; only a handful of individuals knew its location. By process of elimination, the target was easy to identify.
As for the possibility that Lin Ling herself was the mole, and that her entire theory was merely a fabrication to clear her own name...
Li Fan trusted his own judgment.
And his ability to read people.
"Ancient Earthvein Tree..."
"Acting so recklessly, just because it's fused with the earthveins. Hmph."
In an instant, Li Fan had already devised a method to deal with it.
"Ruomu has always coveted these descendants that remained on the surface. If I could deliver such a grand gift, it might even improve our relationship."
However, punishing the Ancient Earthvein Tree would have to wait for the next life.
For now, Li Fan filed that grudge away and waited for the people of the Spirit Wood Realm to finish their preparations.
He summoned Liu Ruchen and the others again.
"Once we break out, follow Tianyang."
"Assume this formation."
Li Fan instructed, his voice low as he imparted the details of the formation to the inhabitants of the Spirit Wood Realm.
(End of this chapter)
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