The next moment... Li Fan snapped back to himself, halting his flight.
He looked back. The black “spatial passage” was right behind him. There had been no teleportation at all. Everything he had just experienced was an illusion that had appeared in his mind the instant he passed through the black "passage."
No, that's not right... Li Fan recalled what he had just witnessed.
It felt too real, even more so than his time in the Fallen Immortal Realm.
Rather than an illusion, it was more like an interaction directly on the level of consciousness... Li Fan narrowed his eyes, the blue crystal flashing repeatedly in his mind.
The scenes from moments ago replayed in his head. But it was the difference between experiencing something firsthand and watching a recording. The sensations were worlds apart.
That profound, mysterious feeling from the gray space, where black and white lines intertwined and collided, was something he could no longer recapture, no matter how hard he tried. He could only reminisce, clinging to the memory of the sensation.
By now, the other array disciples present had also regained their senses. Some stared in horror at the black passageway as it gradually shrank, its purpose fulfilled. Others wore looks of confusion.
"While the impression is still fresh in your minds, return and contemplate it carefully. Commit it to memory. Oh, and you'll likely need some time to readjust your bodies as well." Ji Hongdao said with a laugh.
Hearing this, Li Fan's heart jolted with sudden alarm. Only then did he realize the world through his eyes was black and white, devoid of all color.
What chilled Li Fan even more was that, without Ji Hongdao's reminder, he had been completely unaware of this change. It felt as if his vision had always been this way, as through he had been born seeing only in monochrome.
Assimilation? Influencing my very perception?
As the foundation of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, the Tianxuan Mirror is truly extraordinary.
If before, Li Fan had regarded the Tianxuan Mirror as just a supremely powerful artifact, now, in his eyes, the Tianxuan Mirror was no different from those formidable beings who lurked in the shadows.
The first time he saw the Tianxuan Mirror, a greedy thought had arisen in Li Fan's heart: A treasure like this should be mine.
Now, however, even if the Tianxuan Mirror's true form were placed right before him, he might not dare to take it. At least, not yet.
What do the black and white lines represent? And what does the colorful world signify?
Back at his residence, Li Fan remained deeply immersed in the shock of his first encounter with the Tianxuan Mirror.
Just as Li Fan was diligently contemplating and training to construct the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Array, in the Congyun Sea, the long-awaited grand spectacle finally began its next act.
Things unfolded exactly as in the twelfth lifetime.
In the pitch-black, silent depth of night, a great sun—the transformed Immortal Venerable Jin Ri—suddenly leaped into the sky above.
"Since you have begged for this old man's aid, I shall lend you a hand. Whether you succeed or not depends on your own fortune!" Immortal Venerable Jin Ri's aged voice resounded across the Congyun Sea.
Then, sunlight erupted violently, revealing all things!
Everything hidden in the darkness was laid bare, exposed down to the finest detail. Night turned to day, bright as noon.
The living beings of the Congyun Sea jolted awake from their slumber. Terrified, they gazed up at the sky.
And so, inevitably, some sharp-eyed cultivators spotted the crimson figure standing motionless high in the sky.
"Soul Arbiter of heaven and earth, Crimson Flame!" The information surfaced in the minds of all who beheld it.
An unstoppable greed welled up in their minds. Like moths to a flame, they flew toward Crimson Flame in the sky, fearless and heedless of death.
On Myriad Immortals Island, the disturbance lasted for a moment before the protective barrier formed by the Seven-Colored Immortal-Felling Array quickly expanded, blocking the cultivators' view.
Li Fan's avatar also stepped out from the Tianxuan Mirror at this moment, looking up at the sky.
Under the shaken stares of all present, with the spectacular death phenomena of those slain by their own greed as a backdrop, the group of Spirit Transformation Eminences who had been lying in wait for so long finally struck with overwhelming force.
The first to act was still Immortal Eminence Zi Yun.
A resplendent river of stars, composed of countless shimmering points of light, intertwined with the great golden sun. The radiant light formed a cage, trapping the newly descended Crimson Flame.
"Strike!" A fierce shout rang out.
Five streaks of silver light, appearing from nowhere, abruptly manifested and pierced Crimson Flame's limbs and chest in an instant.
As the arrows embedded themselves, the silver radiance erupted, transforming into chains that firmly bound Crimson Flame!
Hmm? This Immortal Eminence Hao Xuan seems to have gotten significantly stronger?
Li Fan’s eyes narrowed in some surprise as he watched this scene.
Crimson Flame glanced slightly to the side, and the flames covering Its body surged violently. Under the searing heat, the air itself warped and blurred, and the shackles formed from silver arrows began to melt away.
Then, Crimson Flame flicked Its fingers.
In an instant, six small, writhing flames burst forth, shrieking as they shot off in six different directions.
One collided with the vast river of stars, causing its brilliance to dim.
Another streaked toward the great sun in the heavens, draining its radiance.
A third detonated in the empty space ahead, loosening the silver chains binding It.
The remaining three forced Tian Yang, Hong Xi, and Lan Cang out into the open.
Crimson Flame paused for a heartbeat. Then Its true body swapped places with one of the flames, reappearing beside Immortal Eminence Lan Cang in a flash.
Crimson fire roared skyward, condensing into a colossal hand that reached out to crush Immortal Eminence Lan Cang in its grasp.
In the blink of an eye, attacker and defender had reversed roles.
How did this boilerman also become so powerful? Li Fan was now genuinely startled.
In the twelfth lifetime, Crimson Flame had been overwhelmed by these five Immortal Eminences. He hadn't expected that It would so easily gain the upper hand in this life.
Perhaps it was because of the harvest all five Immortal Eminences reaped during the great battle in Tianling Province. Their strength is now far more formidable than before.
Yet Crimson Flame’s combat power has swelled even more... Hmm?
Li Fan paused, a sudden thought striking him.
The five Immortal Eminences are now far stronger than they had been.
Zhang Zhiliang, now a Spirit Transformation array master, has been lying in wait for the perfect moment to act.
On top of that, Ye Feipeng has awakened the Kun-Peng bloodline and enjoys the full backing of the Congyun Sea.
Taken together, the underlying strength of the combatants throughout the Congyun Sea has risen to an entirely different level, utterly incomparable to that of the twelfth lifetime.
Perhaps it is precisely because they have grown too strong, surpassing some unseen threshold, that the will of heaven and earth has taken notice.
It judged the original Crimson Flame to be incapable of carrying out the task of scorching the sea, and so, it strengthened It?
Just what exactly is a Soul Arbiter of heaven and earth...?
As Li Fan formed this vague conjecture, Crimson Flame’s attack was already descending upon Immortal Eminence Lan Cang.
Yet within the raging blaze, Lan Cang’s face could be faintly seen—calm, utterly devoid of fear.
Space suddenly twisted and fractured, shimmering with a golden sheen. In the next instant, Immortal Eminence Lan Cang vanished from where he stood.
Only Zhang Zhiliang’s composed voice echoed across the heavens.
“Immortal Eminences, attack without reservation. So long as I remain here, It will be unable to harm any of you.”