The black-robed cultivator paused, sweeping his icy gaze over Li Fan and the other two before continuing. "Furthermore, as each cultivator's personal experiences and mental states differ, the illusory scenes they witness also vary.
"They are mostly grand visions related to the Heavenly Venerable Dao Teacher from days past.
"However, this only happens the first time."
A trace of regret tinged the black-robed cultivator's voice. "After you've been here long enough, you’ll grow accustomed to the Heavenly Venerable's aura, and can only lament not getting a chance to see those visions again."
Han Yi and Ximen Yue were still reeling from the shock of the vision, and nodded slightly at his words.
Li Fan, however, remained cautious, keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead.
While masking the fear in his heart, he tried to recapture that inexplicable sense of familiarity from moments before.
The black-robed cultivator observed their reactions, appearing not to mind the pause. He did not hurry them, waiting patiently instead.
In his view, the astonishment and shock displayed by these newcomers was utterly normal. As a guide, he was long accustomed to it.
After a while, seeing that all three had gradually shaken off the vision's influence, he resumed his duties.
"I have been entrusted by Immortal Venerable Jicheng to lead you to the Enforcer Hall. Follow closely behind me. Do not wander off.
"While everyone who can enter headquarters has already passed identity verification, and there generally shouldn't be any issues, this is, after all, the headquarters of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, a vital strategic location. Cultivators stand guard covertly at all times.
"If you go somewhere you shouldn't and get captured or killed, no one will plead your case."
The black-robed cultivator delivered this warning coldly.
Li Fan and the others all nodded to show they understood.
Following behind him, Li Fan took the opportunity to observe the scenery within the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters.
Countless majestic structures floated within an apparently boundless void, suspended at varying heights like stars scattered across the heavens.
Li Fan and his group currently stood at the very bottom of this vast architectural expanse.
Overhead, streaks of silver light traced orderly paths through the void, shuttling back and forth between the floating structures. Faint, indistinct silhouettes could be glimpsed within those beams.
They advanced at an unhurried pace. Along the way, they occasionally passed cultivators with solemn expressions, each moving purposefully toward their destination.
The floating landmass beneath their feet appeared to serve only as an inspection point for those entering from outside. Aside from the trees and vegetation lining the path, no other structures had been erected.
Before long, they reached the edge of the landmass.
Ahead, Li Fan spotted a peculiar array inscribed on the ground. Silver threads constantly wove through its patterns, and whenever a cultivator stepped onto it, a burst of silver light would carry them off to different regions above.
Standing guard before the transfer array was a tall, powerfully built cultivator clad in the black-and-yellow Daoist robes of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. His sharp gaze swept over the passing cultivators, scrutinizing each one.
When it came Li Fan’s group’s turn, the tall cultivator glanced at the black-robed cultivator and gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. Even so, he raised a hand to stop them.
The black-robed cultivator remained unconcerned and produced the same small, round mirror as before.
A beam of light shot forth and fell onto the tall cultivator.
Strangely, the light seemed to be absorbed upon contact, vanishing without a trace. Yet within that fleeting instant, countless characters flickered across the tall cultivator’s eyes.
He promptly lowered his hand and made no further attempt to stop them.
With that, the black-robed cultivator led Li Fan and the other two into the transfer array.
The burly middle-aged cultivator pointed a finger toward the array. A slender silver thread shot from his fingertip into the transfer array inscribed on the ground. It circled several times, growing several times thicker, then enveloped Li Fan and the others, carrying them skyward.
In an instant, Li Fan’s body seemed to transform into light, streaking through space at an inconceivable speed. Strangely, he felt none of the discomfort that should accompany such velocity.
The scenery around him blurred into streaks as it receded. In the blink of an eye, the floating landmass they had left had shrunk to the size of a black speck.
The beam of light continued its ascent, passing one floating landmass after another. Li Fan even caught a glimpse of the distinctive, slanted metallic cube structure that marked the Strategy Array Hall on one of the distant landmasses.
Before long, a shadow loomed overhead. The light carrying them plunged into it. Li Fan’s vision swam, and he found himself back in human form.
Setting foot on solid ground once more, Li Fan looked ahead.
Not far in the distance stood a tall, black stone stele. A single, broad, straight road led directly toward it. There were no plants, trees, or any other adornments lining the road’s edges. Compared to the other floating landmasses he had seen, this place felt stark and grimly silent.
The black-robed cultivator took the lead and stepped onto the road.
The road surface seemed to be made of a bluish-green stone. As he walked on it, Li Fan discovered, to his alarm, that the spiritual qi within his body suddenly fell dormant, as though it had lost all life. No matter how he tried to command it, he couldn’t mobilize a single wisp. Consequently, his early-stage Golden Core avatar became no different from a mortal.
Han Yi and Ximen Yue had clearly noticed this as well. The three exchanged fearful glances but dared not discuss it, hurrying to catch up with the black-robed cultivator who was already some distance ahead.
The tall black stele didn’t look far, positioned right at the end of the straight road. Yet, as Li Fan and the others, relying solely on their physical bodies, made their way step by slow step, the road seemed to stretch on interminably. In Li Fan’s perception, it took nearly half a day before they arrived at their destination, somewhat exhausted.
During their trek, they had encountered cultivators exiting from the black stele and leaving. Unlike their group, those individuals seemed unaffected, capable of flying above the road.
It must be a restriction placed on outsiders. Members of the Enforcer Hall likely use some secret art to avoid being affected. Li Fan thought to himself.
Only upon reaching the base of the black stele did Li Fan truly grasp its immensity.
Its peak extended beyond his line of sight, and its monolithic black form exuded a profound, oppressive aura. What struck Li Fan as odd was that the stele appeared to be a single seamless stone, with no entrance or exit anywhere to be seen.
At that moment, the black-robed cultivator who had led them there spoke. "Alright, present your Audience Jade Tokens."
Upon hearing this, Li Fan and the other two each took out their exquisite jade tokens. The iridescent seven-colored light from the jade tokens shone upon the black stele, painting its deep darkness with a riot of shimmering color.
The radiance spread, and the solid stone seemed to dissolve within that cascade of hues. A shimmering, seven-colored passageway opened upon the stele's surface.
"Go on in," the black-robed cultivator said. "I lack an Audience Jade Token, so I cannot enter the Enforcer Hall without permission."