The Heavenly Mechanism Hall was located within the core district at the center of Myriad Immortals Island. A message instructed Li Fan to proceed to the district's entrance, where someone would receive him.
Intrigued by these mysterious deaths, Li Fan didn't delay and headed straight for the central core district.
Soon, the magnificent structures at Myriad Immortals Island's heart loomed before him. A striking seven-colored light barrier and a surrounding moat clearly demarcated the core district from the residential cave dwellings.
Li Fan paused on a small bridge, waiting for his escort. He keenly sensed the shimmering seven-colored light above lock onto him the moment he stepped onto the bridge.
Never one to shy away, Li Fan looked up to study the prismatic light. It seemed to be part of the island protection array, yet stood apart, and felt far more powerful.
I wonder what kind of array this is. He mused silently.
Before long, a Foundation Establishment cultivator in black-and-yellow robes hurried over. After a brief glance to confirm Li Fan's identity, the man offered no explanations, simply instructing Li Fan to follow closely and not wander off. Then he turned and headed inward.
The lock of the seven-colored light dissipated as Li Fan followed at a leisurely pace, his eyes taking in the surroundings.
Every cultivator here wore the same black-and-yellow robes as his escort. Their expressions were grave, their movements hurried, as if burdened by pressing matters. Their cultivation levels ranged from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment and beyond.
So these are the people working within the system. Li Fan thought.
They passed the Council Hall, Medicine Hall, Talisman Hall, Martial Hall... until finally reaching the Heavenly Mechanism Hall tucked away in a corner.
This place felt noticeably quieter than the others. Occasionally, they encountered one or two cultivators whose cultivation levels were indiscernible. These cultivators had their eyes closed as they calculated silently with their fingers, seemingly deep in divination.
The escort led Li Fan to a chamber before silently withdrawing.
The room was hazy with incense smoke, and a cultivator stood with his back to Li Fan, gazing up at an enormous map of the Congyun Sea.
Li Fan focused on the map. It was densely covered with countless markings. Azure winds, crimson crosses, black dots... and all these symbols moved and shifted incessantly across the map like living things.
What is this... Li Fan's interest was piqued, and he studied the map closely. Yet after just a few moments, a wave of dizziness washed over him. He quickly averted his gaze, not daring to look further.
Li Fan stood in the room for some time before the cultivator finally turned around. He appeared to be a scholar-like young man, perhaps in his twenties, with a sickly, exhausted demeanor.
After coughing several times, he waved his hand, and dozens of projections of miniature human figures materialized before Li Fan.
"Do you recognize these people?"
Li Fan looked, focusing on one of the figures. An explanation popped up in his mind as he did so.
"Mao Fei, late-stage Qi Refinement realm. Cause of death: Attacked by an exotic beast while traveling at sea."
He examined another. "Qiao Guangyu, mid-stage Golden Core realm. Cause of death: Mental derangement during contemplation of the laws of heaven and earth, resulting in self-detonation."
Li Fan's eyelids twitched. He moved to another. "Ling Meng, mid-stage Nascent Soul realm. Cause of death: Died accidentally while seeking opportunities within a relic cave dwelling."
After reviewing each figure, a chill ran down Li Fan's spine. He recognized every one of them—they were all part of the group that had entered that thatched hut. What they had believed to be a great opportunity to advance a cultivation stage had instead turned out to be a deadly trap. The claiming of lives did not happen immediately, but in the near future.
Fuzi... how treacherous.
Moreover, Li Fan was all too familiar with this manner of death. Wasn't this none other than heaven activating its killing mechanisms?
But why would accepting Fuzi's opportunity attract the killing intent of heaven and earth?
Fuzi, Heavenly Physician, Cloudwater Palace... Countless thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind in an instant.
While pondering, he did not forget to nod and reply, "I did indeed cross paths with these people once."
He then described the scene of the azure ox pulling the cart and the wooden slip’s lessons.
The scholarly cultivator seemed to have already known this and showed little surprise. Instead, he studied Li Fan with keen interest and asked, "With such an opportunity right before you, why did you refrain from going in when all the others entered?"
Li Fan repeated the same explanation he had used before.
The scholarly cultivator listened without expressing approval or disapproval, though he did not press Li Fan further. He simply smiled and said, "You certainly have remarkable luck."
He turned to look at the projections of the cultivators who had died under mysterious circumstances and sighed, "When heaven demands your death, you cannot refuse."
After a long pause, he finally said to Li Fan, "You may go now. I know this matter has nothing to do with you, but as the sole survivor of the incident, necessary procedures must be followed. That is why I summoned you here for questioning."
Li Fan nodded, took one last glance at the map on the wall, and quietly left.
Faintly, he heard the cultivator sigh softly: "Another case has appeared?"
Li Fan's steps faltered for a moment before resuming their normal pace.
After exiting the Heavenly Mechanism Hall, questions surged in Li Fan's mind.
Another case? What does that mean? Does it refer to Oddities harming people, or heaven activating its killing mechanisms? Under the intangible influence of the Eternal Heavenly Venerable, how does he remember?
Li Fan recalled the countless markers on that map.
Perhaps, although specific events cannot be remembered, one can indirectly confirm that an event truly occurred by observing its effects.
For example, if cultivators of the Myriad Immortals Alliance suddenly die in large numbers simultaneously at a certain moment...
Li Fan pondered as he walked, but his train of thought was interrupted by a noisy crowd ahead.
These people all wore black and yellow robes, appearing quite young and somewhat inexperienced in the ways of the world.
Their cultivation levels were only at the early-stage Qi Refinement realm, and they seemed to have just begun their cultivation journeys.
They were looking up and pointing at the flowing seven-colored light barrier in the sky, excitedly discussing something.
The leader among them was relatively older than the rest, with a long beard. He was currently giving them an introduction, "This is the Seven-Colored Immortal-Felling Array, standard in the core area of every Myriad Immortals Alliance branch. Modified from an ancient array, its power is astonishing. Even an ordinary Spirit Transformation cultivator who carelessly falls into the array will immediately perish, their Dao extinguished."
"So powerful!"
"Master Gong, Master Gong, how long do we have to study before we can set up such an incredible array?"
Master Gong chuckled. "You youngsters have just learned to walk and already want to fly.
"Let me think," he mused. "Generally speaking, once you break through to the Dao Establishment realm, you may attempt to construct an island protection array."
"At the Golden Core realm, you might barely qualify to assist in maintaining the Myriad Immortals Array."
"As for this Seven-Colored Immortal-Felling Array..." Master Gong smiled but offered no further answer.