Chapter 1212: Shifting the Immortal Scourge
Chapter 1212: Shifting the Immortal Scourge
“Actually...”
After wrestling with the thought, Ji Hongdao sent a telepathic message. “I only heard this by chance, so I don’t know if it’s true. Just take it as a bit of gossip, Brother Sun. But it’s best not to spread this around.”
Having laid out his disclaimers, his tone turned solemn. “The truth is, of the Five Heavenly Venerates of the Five Elders Council, two were originally members of our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.”
“But for some reason...” Ji Hongdao shrugged.
It was the first time Sun Luyuan had ever heard this rumor, and he was utterly flabbergasted.
He was about to ask more, but he saw the other man make a subtle gesture.
He wisely chose not to press the matter.
After all, the claim was simply too incredible to believe.
“It seems this was a wasted trip. The issue of your brother possessing that mirror remains unsolved. What do you plan to do?” Ji Hongdao inquired.
“I’ll have to take it one step at a time,” Sun Luyuan replied with a hint of resignation.
“However, as you said, Brother Ji, the formations in those ruins were quite old. This means my previous assumption was likely wrong. The calamity within the Immeasurable Mirror may lie dormant for a very long time after it erupts. At the very least, it seems my brother is safe for now.”
Ji Hongdao nodded at his words. “I still have official duties to attend to, so I’ll be on my way. If anything comes up, feel free to contact me anytime.”
“Thank you, Brother Ji!” Sun Luyuan said gratefully.
“Ah, don’t mention it,” Ji Hongdao replied with a dismissive wave.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he transformed into a streak of light and departed.
The expression on Sun Luyuan’s face gradually settled into a calm mask.
In truth, his reason for stopping Ji Hongdao from reporting the discovery of the Grandmaster's remains went beyond his stated concerns; he had his own agenda.
“If the Alliance’s discovery of the Grandmaster's remains could truly trigger a war between the two sides...”
A dangerous glint flickered in Sun Luyuan’s eyes.
“Perhaps this is an opportunity.”
“According to the Immeasurable Mirror’s deductions, that so-called Great Qi Sacred Dynasty was able to hold its own against the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance at its peak. If it were to face an Alliance that was just reeling from a great war, one that had suffered heavy losses...”
Sun Luyuan would never have imagined that he and a certain someone were thinking along the exact same lines.
After his initial shock had subsided, this very strategy had surfaced in Li Fan’s mind.
However, after carefully weighing his options, he had decided against using the Grandmaster's remains as a pawn in his game.
The risk of drawing that half-immortal into the fray was simply too high.
And Li Fan had plenty of other leverage to achieve the same effect.
For instance, the matter of Dongji being refined into a puppet.
Or fabricating a story that the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance was hiding another Rebirth Heavenly Venerate on the verge of apotheosis.
If Li Fan so desired, he could ignite a war across the Xuanhuang Realm at any moment.
However...
Recalling the rumor Ji Hongdao had shared on the Dust Crossing Boat, Li Fan frowned slightly.
“Two of the Five Heavenly Venerates of the Five Elders Council were originally from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance?”
“And yet they chose to stand against the Alliance...”
“Could it be because of what happened to Dongji? Did they fear they’d be next?”
“Or perhaps, they discovered the Dharma Spreader’s plot to dismember the Xuanhuang Realm?”
The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance would naturally do everything in its power to conceal such matters.
Aside from those who had been there at the time, finding any written record of it would be next to impossible.
After all, Li Fan had lived through countless lives and had remained completely oblivious to it.
But now that he knew, investigating it would be far easier.
While Li Fan was lost in thought, the conversation between Sun Luyuan and Sun Luyao had already concluded.
“Brother, are you sure this method will work?”
“Don’t worry, brother, it’s almost a sure thing. The idea came to me naturally the moment I saw the Heavenly Capital Grandmaster. I suspect the Immeasurable Mirror has some sort of connection to him,” Sun Luyao affirmed with conviction.
“Alright, I’ll see what I can do. But I’ve never heard of these ‘You Clan’ people before; they must be a top secret within the Alliance. Getting one won’t be easy,” Sun Luyuan said, his brow deeply furrowed.
“Don’t rush, brother. I should be able to hold on a while longer,” Sun Luyao said with a reassuring smile.
Sun Luyuan sighed softly and walked out of the secret chamber.
Indeed, the solution Li Fan had provided for the Immeasurable Mirror’s annihilation calamity was born from his earlier speculation.
Divert the disaster!
Use an immortal artifact, or something approaching its level, to lure the calamity hidden within the Immeasurable Mirror out into the open.
Li Fan surmised that the annihilation calamity, having been transmitted from the Heavenly Capital Grandmaster to the Immeasurable Mirror, was likely extremely sensitive to entities of the “Immortal” tier.
Perhaps merely sensing such an aura would be enough to provoke an attack from it.
If so, the bulk of its power could be siphoned away.
Naturally, Li Fan couldn't use a true half-immortal artifact as bait, but creating items that exuded an immortal aura was well within his capabilities.
The key was the condensed Source Power Essence provided by the You Clan.
“With the golden Source Power Essence, supplemented by the Boundless, Primordial Vision Array—which is itself nearly at the immortal level—I should be able to fabricate a half-immortal artifact.”
“Even if it’s all for show, it should be enough.”
“And if it fails, it doesn’t matter. I’ll just consider it a test.”
Aside from the branch that had been captured by the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance still held a large number of You Clan members.
He just needed to find a way. With the Sun family’s status and connections, they should be able to procure some.
However, what truly troubled Li Fan at the moment was the situation at the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
Ever since the message from the Dharma Spreader arrived, ordering sixteen Dao Integration cultivators to venture beyond the Xuanhuang Realm, the Alliance headquarters had remained sealed.
Something major was clearly brewing within.
“With the resources of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, force-growing sixteen Dao Integration cultivators would be a simple matter.”
“There’s absolutely no need for such a prolonged lockdown.”
“The only thing I can think of that would warrant such caution, such fear of leaks...”
“Is a method to escape the Immortal Ruins, to flee the Xuanhuang Realm!”
A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.
The primary reason the various powers of the Xuanhuang Realm were all lying low was the existence of the Immortal Ruins.
There was no way out.
If they, unaware of the High Wall's existence, discovered a method to safely leave the Xuanhuang Realm...
Countless cultivators would seize the opportunity.
Without a moment’s hesitation.
It would be a repeat of what had happened in the Xuanhuang Realm thousands of years ago.
Every man for himself when disaster strikes!
“Even the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance itself would have to worry about its own members trying to escape.”
“After all, they can’t exactly publicize the existence of the High Wall. Doing so would plunge the world into chaos.”
With these thoughts, Li Fan once again used the Immeasurable Mirror to peer at the Tianxuan Mirror.
He expected to find nothing, as he had before.
To his surprise, this time he managed to uncover a few clues.
“Clear Void Flowing Crystal. Acquire it quickly. Don’t make a scene; use covert channels. Once obtained, destroy them.”
“Clear Void Flowing Crystal.”
...
Three or four such messages flowed out from the Alliance headquarters through the Tianxuan Mirror.
(End of Chapter)
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