Cultivators constantly monitored for merit tasks triggered by random events like this one. Thus, Li Fan immediately accepted the mission to prevent it from getting snatched by someone else.
Soon, a friend request came through the Myriad Communication Talisman. It was Jiang Zhengji from the Martial Hall.
Li Fan accepted the request, and Jiang Zhengji's message arrived: "Fellow Daoist Li Fan, I've reviewed your basic information.
"With your late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation and the assistance of arrays, completing this mission with our squad should pose minimal risk to you.
"I'll send you the information for this Wanlai Island expedition shortly so you can prepare in advance.
"We depart tomorrow morning. All participants will assemble at the Dao Transmission Plaza."
Instead of immediately examining the information Jiang Zhengji had sent, Li Fan first checked Jiang Zhengji's personal information.
As his divine sense touched the star representing Jiang Zhengji within the sea of stars, a brief message instantly surfaced in Li Fan's mind.
“Jiang Zhengji, a member of the Celestial Change squad in the Myriad Immortals Island's Martial Hall.”
“Mid-stage Golden Core realm cultivation.”
Li Fan knew a little bit about this Celestial Change squad. It was one of the nine martial divisions of the Martial Hall.
Within the Myriad Immortals Alliance, the Enforcer Hall only intervened in matters related to techniques. In all other situations requiring martial force, the Martial Hall took responsibility.
The nine martial divisions were named: Celestial Balance, Celestial Azure, Celestial Change, Celestial Mystery, Celestial Nether, Celestial Radiance, Celestial Vermilion, Celestial Flame, and Celestial Sun.
Apart from the Celestial Balance division, which held a slightly higher position for coordination purposes, the other divisions maintained equal status.
I wonder how many members the Celestial Change division will deploy for this mission.
Pondering this, Li Fan opened the mission briefing.
Wanlai Island was located in the southwestern waters of the Congyun Sea.
The island was inhabited by a species of headless humanoid exotic beast that possessed stunted lower limbs and powerfully built arms. Though they crawled on the ground, they moved with remarkable speed. Each headless beast had a gaping, blood-smeared maw embedded in its chest.
These creatures fed on sound; when hungry, producing any slight noise would satisfy their hunger. They had thick, rough hides and could quickly heal their injuries by consuming sound waves.
They possessed considerable combat strength and could weaponize sonic waves against enemies. Combined with rapid reproduction and large numbers, they faced no natural predators on the island. Thus, they easily dominated the entire Wanlai Island.
Feeding on sound? Interesting.
After grasping the mission essentials, Li Fan purchased some array materials through the Tianxuan Mirror.
If he could complete this mission without revealing his true capabilities, contributing his strength through arrays alone, that would be ideal.
The preparations he made require no elaborate description.
The next morning, Li Fan arrived at the Dao Transmission Plaza early. Before long, he spotted Jiang Zhengji approaching with six others.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Jiang!" Li Fan cupped his hands.
"Fellow Daoist Li, thank you for waiting," Jiang Zhengji responded courteously, then introduced the six people behind him.
Among them, one possessed mid-stage Golden Core cultivation like Jiang Zhengji, while the rest were late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators like Li Fan.
After exchanging pleasantries, the group teleported to Guishou Island, the closest island to Wanlai Island with a teleportation array.
Following another half-day's flight, a lush, verdant island appeared in the distance.
Jiang Zhengji gave his instructions as he led the way, "Those beasts are extremely sensitive to sound. To avoid alerting them, do not speak once we enter the area ahead. Conceal your auras and communicate through divine sense only."
Everyone acknowledged the order.
Upon entering Wanlai Island's vicinity, their surroundings plunged into absolute silence. The sounds of the waves and wind vanished completely.
Flying soundlessly over the island, Li Fan surveyed the scene below and felt a chill creep into his heart.
The vast island was crammed with headless exotic beasts in every corner. Most lay lazily on the ground, doing nothing. Where space was insufficient, they didn't fight. Instead, they piled atop one another, forming small, grotesque hills.
Their fur was a uniform shade of red, giving the island's surface the appearance of being blanketed by shifting crimson moss.
The sight alone was unnerving.
Occasionally, one or two headless beasts grew hungry but couldn't be bothered to rise. They simply patted their bellies, and the sound barely traveled far before being swallowed by the gaping maws on their torsos. Nearby beasts would crowd around, jaws agape, sharing the meal.
Beyond eating, they engaged in procreation. Their vigorous movements often drew crowds of onlookers, who encircled the participants with open, drooling mouths.
Li Fan wasn’t the only one unsettled by the bizarre spectacle on Wanlai Island. The five Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Celestial Change division, evidently also joining this mission for the first time, wore equally grim expressions.
Only Jiang Zhengji and the other Golden Core cultivator, Du Xingchang, remained unperturbed, as if long accustomed to such sights.
"Prepare to engage!"
Jiang Zhengji tossed a purple array diagram skyward. It expanded with the wind, swiftly enveloping the entire island in a violet glow.
The headless beasts below remained utterly unaware.
Jiang Zhengji's body began radiating brilliant light as snow and ice cascaded around him. The frost spread, instantly shrouding the island.
Golden Core Law Manifestation... Li Fan watched, his eyes glinting.
Having previously done his research on the Golden Core realm, he recognized it immediately.
Upon reaching the Golden Core realm, one could harness the laws within one’s Golden Core to form a Law Manifestation. By uniting body and manifestation, one was able to manipulate the surrounding area through these laws.
Amid the swirling snow, the temperature on Wanlai Island plummeted.
Some headless beasts slowly sensed something amiss, glancing around. But Li Fan and the others hovered high above them without a sound, remaining undetected.
Simultaneously, Du Xingchang made his move. Amid the blizzard, crimson plum blossoms erupted from the soil, blooming defiantly. In moments, the island was a canvas of white snow and red blossoms.
"Xingchang and I will oversee the battle from above. The rest of you, begin the assault!" Jiang Zhengji commanded.
The five Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Martial Hall's Celestial Change division nodded in unison. Without hesitation, they descended upon the headless beasts.
It feels like veterans training newcomers, a drill of sorts. Li Fan observed.
Not wanting to appear idle, he swiftly followed suit, deploying a Spirit Sense Life-Death Array to aid the five Foundation Establishment cultivators below.
This was one of the arrays Zhang Zhiliang had deployed during the ambush on Crimson Flame in his twelfth lifetime. It amplified offensive power and enhanced coordination between allies.
The version Li Fan currently set up was dozens of times weaker than the original. Yet to the five Foundation Establishment cultivators, its effects were striking.
Without pause, Li Fan proceeded to deploy several more arrays in rapid succession: the Five Directions Spirit Gathering Array, the Sticky Silk Hindrance Array, and the Celestial Spirit Fire Dragon Array among them.