At first, some cultivators still clung to a sliver of hope. They believed this was simply a sporadic phenomenon and chose to remain within the Chaoyuan Sect ruins, refusing to leave.
However, when over a dozen stubborn cultivators successively turned into phantoms within seven days, everyone finally faced reality and scattered like startled birds and beasts.
The previous popularity of the Chaoyuan Sect ruins was largely due to it being an exploration site of little danger.
Now, with this inexplicable phenomenon, few cultivators were willing to risk their lives before understanding what was truly happening.
After all, opportunities could be found anytime, but one only had a single life.
Only a small handful of people stubbornly remained.
"So, now that you know how dangerous this place is, do you still dare to enter?" Shuo Feng looked at Su Xiaomei with a smile.
The three of them had traveled together for dozens of days, their constant companionship long since erasing the initial awkwardness.
Although this Shuo Feng was a Spirit Transformation Immortal Eminence who had dispersed his cultivation to start anew, he never put on airs and was approachable.
Along the journey, he would occasionally offer cultivation guidance to Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo, from which they benefited greatly.
And his declarations—"I dispersed my cultivation to begin anew, seeking the path of invincibility. Invincible in Qi Refinement, invincible in Foundation Establishment, invincible in Golden Core... invincible in eternal life!
"I am Shuo Feng. In forging new paths and creating new laws, I am the world's pioneer. In battle, I am the world's vanguard, peerless and undefeated!"[1]
The air of disdain for all under heaven that occasionally revealed itself in his speech also secretly impressed Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo.
Now, seeing him pose the question, they could not help but feel their own lofty ambitions stirred.
"If you dare, why wouldn't I?" Su Xiaomei lifted her chin, not backing down in the slightest.
Zhang Haobo also showed no trace of fear: "I'll see it through to the end!"
"Haha! Well said!" Shuo Feng laughed heartily and strode first into the Chaoyuan Sect ruins.
Su Xiaomei and Zhang Haobo exchanged a glance and followed closely behind.
The moment they stepped into the Chaoyuan Sect's territory, Li Fan lost all perception of them. It was as if they had vanished from this world in an instant, journeying to another.
The Chaoyuan Sect... Su Xiaomei and the others are favored by heaven. They should be in no mortal danger.
As for what secrets lie within... we will only know when they emerge.
Li Fan's eyes gleamed thoughtfully.
***
Time flowed on, arriving at Anchor Year 26.
The Yin sisters had both successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, granting Li Fan a significant amount of cultivation feedback.
Growing restless from prolonged stillness, both slowly conceived a desire to return to Yelan Island.
It so happened that Su Changyu was always secluded in bitter cultivation, and there was no one looking after them.
So, after leaving a message, the two quietly returned to their homeland.
The sisters settled accounts one by one with the bullies who had tormented them in their youth.
The details of that need not be elaborated on.
On this day, Li Fan finally received a message from Zhang Zhiliang.
Hurrying to the Strategy Array Hall, Li Fan once again met the array master.
Zhang Zhiliang dispensed with pleasantries and got straight to the point: "The closed-door training in Tianyu Province has commenced. Prepare yourself. You can depart in a few days.
"All matters you need to take note of have been recorded in this jade slip. You'll understand upon reviewing it."
As he spoke, he handed over a glittering, encrypted golden jade slip.
Li Fan did not examine it on the spot, simply storing it away and thanking Zhang Zhiliang.
Zhang Zhiliang's expression was placid.
A Knowledge Appraisal Sphere flew to Li Fan. "Let's see if you've neglected your array path cultivation during this time.”
Li Fan took the sphere and began expertly answering the questions contained within.
A moment later, Zhang Zhiliang watched as the sphere lit up and gave a satisfied nod.
He then produced a small black case and handed it to Li Fan. "This contains some items I prepared for you. When the time is right, the seal will be automatically lifted."
Zhang Zhiliang looked at Li Fan, his expression profound. "The journey to Tianyu Province is long. I have secured one use of the ultra-long-range teleportation array for you, which will take you directly there.
"The teleportation jade token must be used within ten days, or it will dissipate on its own." As he spoke, Zhang Zhiliang tossed another jade token over.
Li Fan caught it. Carved upon the token was the image of an elder wearing a tall headpiece, identical to the statue of the Heavenly Venerable in the Dao Transmission Plaza.
"Go now," Zhang Zhiliang said, waving a hand to dismiss him. "Remember, do not disgrace my name!"
Li Fan bowed respectfully and withdrew slowly.
It's about time to leave the Congyun Sea. He thought. In any case, my avatar will remain here. It can provide some assistance if necessary.
Li Fan traveled alone, all his worldly possessions within his storage ring.
With nothing worth lingering for, he decided to leave immediately and headed straight for the Dao Transmission Plaza.
Unlike the island teleportation arrays, each positioned before different statues corresponding to an island of the Congyun Sea, the ultra-long-range teleportation array was located inside the statue of the Heavenly Venerable.
Walking to the foot of the Heavenly Venerable's statue, Li Fan presented his teleportation jade token to the guard.
After verifying its authenticity, the cultivator formed a hand seal and pointed at Li Fan.
Li Fan's vision blurred. The next instant, he was inside the statue.
Only then did he realize that, from within, the stone figure seemed transparent. The surrounding scenery was laid out before him in its entirety without any obstructions.
He was now positioned at roughly the height of the statue's heart. Looking down upon Myriad Immortals Island, the busy cultivators appeared as small as ants.
Not a bad view. Li Fan mused privately. Flight is forbidden on Myriad Immortals Island. Even after all these cycles, this is the first time I've seen such a sight.
After a moment of reflection, he flew forward according to the guidance. He entered a space filled with silvery mist, where brilliant stars shone.
The teleportation array sat dormant here, seldom activated given the enormous cost each use exacted. For the moment, Li Fan had the space entirely to himself.
Li Fan raised the teleportation token high. An instant later, it disintegrated into specks of green light that shot toward the surrounding stars.
Then, a phantom image of a massive, luminous cloud appeared before him. Within the cloud, the miniature forms of landmasses and mountain ranges were faintly visible.
Tianyu Province. Li Fan identified through his divine sense.
The cloud-image rapidly expanded, focusing on the four central regions.
Tianyu, Tianchen, Tianshu, Tianquan. Li Fan noted thoughtfully. These are the four great provinces that guard the headquarters of the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
Selecting Tianyu Province as his destination, Li Fan activated the array.
In that instant, the star-filled sky seemed to dim. Time and space seemed to have frozen still. A pressure a thousand times greater than that of an ordinary teleportation array bore down from the surrounding space.
Caught completely off guard, Li Fan’s blood-qi churned violently, his heart hammering against his ribs.
He tried to circulate his spiritual qi to stabilize himself, only to find it utterly uncontrollable, rampaging wildly through his meridians.
The scenery around him warped and shifted in a flash. Seven-coloured radiant light gathered and dispersed, every image stretching and distorting into impossible shapes.
He couldn’t even hear the frantic pounding of his own heart, as if he had been plunged into deafness.
A long time seemed to pass, or perhaps only a single moment.
All the strange phenomena vanished in an instant.
Dizzy and disoriented, Li Fan, who had been successfully teleported, stumbled and nearly collapsed to the ground.
1. 朔 (Shuò) means "first day of the lunar month" or "north," symbolizing the beginning, the origin, the one who leads the way. Here I translated it as "pioneer.”
锋 (Fēng) means "the sharp point of a blade; the forefront." Here, I translated it as “vanguard”, that means the foremost part of an advancing army, the cutting edge. ☜